A total of 4,500 primary and secondary school students from the low-income (B40) group and poor families throughout Sabah benefited from the 2020 "Back to School" programme, organised by Yayasan Pelajaran Majlis Amanah Rakyat (YPM).

Rural Development Minister Rina Mohd Harun (above) said it involved an overall cost of RM315,000.

Ït is hoped that this programme would alleviate the burden of the parents in making preparations for their school-going children for next year's school session.

"This effort will encourage students to strive for personal and academic excellence,” she said at the aid presentation ceremony at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bongawan, near Kimanis, today.

Rina said the recipients of the aid under the programme would receive a voucher for exercise books, stationery and school bags worth RM50 for primary school pupils and RM70 for secondary school students.

"At today’s programme, 180 students from 22 schools in the Kimanis parliamentary constituency received school aid. We also extended contribution to 104 students in the district who were affected in the floods recently,” she added.

Rina also said that for the Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) Form One intake next year, 80,319 applications were received, with the quota only being 7,628.

"It includes 3,595 students for MRSM Premier, MRSM Ulul Albab (870 students), MRSM International General Certificate of Secondary Education (2,485 students), MRSM Technical (180 students) and the MRSM International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (489 students).

Rina said those candidates (applicants) who failed to get placements at the Mara MRSM are allowed to appeal, to fill the vacancy of 300 students who rejected the offer.

- Bernama