Minister Rosy Akbar.

Despite a reduction of $17.1 million in the Education Ministry’s budget, it says the free education scheme will not be affected.

Akbar says this financial year 70,801 students have been assisted under the subsidized bus fare scheme and 32,927 through the rural transport vouchers.

She adds under the tertiary scholarship loan scheme 44,812 students have been assisted.

“We are very mindful as a government that families face even more hardship today due to COVID-19 and the government remains committed to providing free education, free textbook, and free subsidization. As honourable members of this parliament, we need to ensure that our children are fully equipped to handle the challenges of the future some of which may be even worse than COVID-19.”

Minister Rosy Akbar says they have assisted 151,692 primary and 64,019 secondary school students under the free tuition fee and textbooks initiative in the last financial year.