BINTULU: Yayasan Petronas ‘Back to School 2019’ (BTS 2019) programme is benefitting 3,638 pupils from 13 primary schools here for the 2020 academic year. The students who come from low-income families, the Bottom 40 percent (B40) households, will each receive a school bag, tumbler, poncho, stationery along with two pairs of school uniform and a pair of socks and shoes.
The programme was held at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Baru and witnessed by Petronas Sarawak head Zulaihi M Mantali.
Yayasan Petronas chief executive officer Lita Osman said, “This is our largest nationwide outreach since the programme started 17 years ago.
We’re glad that we can help 21,000 students prepare for their school next year.
“We hope that by removing one of the barriers that students from low-income families often experience, they will be motivated to stay and finish school,” Lita said.
“Every child should be given a chance to pursue quality education for a better future and to get out of poverty.
“These children can one day improve their lives and that of their communities,” Lita added.
According to recent reports by the Ministry of Education, school dropout rates in Malaysia have declined slightly from 0.34 percent to 0.29 percent between 2014 and 2017 and the ministry aims to further reduce the rates to 0.27 percent in 2019.
BTS 2019 will run from mid-October to November 2019, supported by more than 800 Petronas volunteers who will be selecting school uniforms and shoes for the children, packing and delivering the items to schools. The programme will benefit a total of 21,000 Primary school students from low-income families nationwide.
