A sum of RM200 million has been allocated as the launching grant for the Poor Students' Trust Fund to be launched o­n May 6, said Deputy Finance Minister Dr Shafie Mohamed Salleh.

He said the fund would help dropouts from government and government-aided kindergartens and primary schools, according to a Bernama report.

The trust fund approved recently by the Cabinet had been tabled at the Dewan Rakyat and would be presented to the Dewan Negara next week, he said.

"This is in line with the National Education Policy, which makes it mandatory for every child upon attaining seven years' old to receive primary education.
"We do not want to take drastic action against parents, who do not send their children to school, but instead help them through this incentive," he told reporters after attending a sports carnival for pre-schoolers of Bestari
Foundation in Selangor.
One-off payment

Shafei said a pupil would receive RM120 as a o­ne-off payment under the trust fund, adding that the money would be channelled through the state and district education offices and other organisations deemed fit.

He said the board of directors would be appointed by the Education Ministry comprising leading personalities and people engaged in the education sector.

On the criteria of dropouts, the deputy minister explained that those from families with a household income of less than RM500 and families, who received assistance from other government agencies, but were still insufficient were eligible.

He said state education departments and district education offices would be responsible to select the pupils to receive the financial aid and non-financial assistance such as nutritional food, learning aids and school uniform.

The report added that hostel facilities, bus fare, bicycles, tuition classes and counselling would also be provided for the pupils under the aid programme.