STARTING THIS YEAR, RECIPIENTS OF SCHOOL AID FOR NEEDY STUDENTS WILL BE SELECTED DIRECTLY FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S EKASIH POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAMME LIST. THIS IS AIMED AT TRIMMING THE EXPENDITURE FOR SUCH PROGRAMMES IN LINE WITH THE 30 PER CENT CUT IN THE BUDGET FOR THE EDUCATION MINISTRY THIS YEAR.

eKasih list to be used to give out school aid

This is aimed at trimming the expenditure for such programmes in line with the 30 per cent cut in the budget for the Education Ministry this year.

The usual practice where the ministry relied on recipient lists supplied by schools would be discontinued.

The ministry had so far been spending about RM2 billion a year on student aid programmes, including free food and tuition.

This would also help plug the loopholes in these programmes.

In some cases, students whose parents drove expensive cars were on the aid recipient list with the claim that the household income was only about RM700.

"For example, we have been spending a total of RM250 million annually on food aid for about 700,000 poor students.

"However, we received feedback that recipients were refusing to eat the food."

The eKasih would be a good reference for the student aid programme to ensure that the aid reached the truly deserving.

The allocation for the free tuition for needy children run by schools would also be slashed this year using the eKasih reference.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong