Education ministry eyes special school for poor students by next year

The education ministry says it will make every effort to realise the establishment of a new type of school specifically for students from hardcore poor families next year.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said efforts to provide quality education for underprivileged children in the country had always been part of her ministry’s agenda.

"We will ensure the establishment of this new type of school specifically for our poor children, Insha Allah," she told reporters after officiating the Schools in Hospitals (SDH) programme at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) in Alor Setar yesterday.

On Aug 5, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, when speaking at the "Temu Anwar Bicara Pendidikan Madani" programme at the Penang Matriculation College, said the government was planning to introduce a new type of school specifically for the children of the poorest groups in the country so that they would not be left behind in the education system.

Fadhlina said the special school would, among other things, have a clear direction towards improving the level of education among children from poor families.

Meanwhile, she said that there are currently 17 SDH operating in 11 states including at HSB in Kedah and the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Perlis.

She said the programme was being implemented in collaboration with the health ministry.

"We will expand (the SDH programme) and I have discussed the matter with the Health Minister (Dr Zaliha Mustafa), because the issue now is space and we don’t want to disrupt hospital operations.

"It is very important for us to provide a conducive learning environment for these children (undergoing treatment at hospitals)," she said.