“The children are not interested in studying and are fed up with being scolded by teachers,” he added. According to him, the study also said the children would prefer to help their parents at work or were embarrassed to go to school in towns. Ishak said that concerted efforts were needed from all parties to educate and create awareness on the importance of education among indigenous people. Among the programmes earmarked were motivational courses for heads of families and women folk, tuition, educational aid, transportation and accommodation for those in remote areas, and scholarships, he added. Ishak also said the Education Ministry had built hostels for Orang Asli students in SK Betau, SK Kuala Koyan and SK Permatang Keledang in Kuala Lipis, SM Tengku Kudin and SM Koyan in Raub, and SM Sultan Ahmad Shah in Cameron Highlands (The Star 14.1.2006, 26.1.2006). The reasons of the state minister above are not very different from those frequently given by those in authority, and even some academics, whenever they are asked to explain the poor staying-power of Orang Asli in schools. To further attest the government’s role in providing all the encouragement and facilities to help stem the dropout phenomenon, statistics such as those given in the Table 4 are often displayed as proof of the government’s concerted effort in this matter. The insinuation is that all that is needed in terms of infrastructure, motivation, financial support and trained personnel have been fulfilled and if the dropout remains high, the fault must lie at the feet of the Orang Asli schoolchildren themselves and/or their parents. However, a closer look at the trends in Orang Asli education funding assistance (and delivery) coupled with what is happening at the local level will reveal that there are very serious structural problems that have persistently plagued Orang Asli advancement in education. These ‘problems’ have not been given the weight and seriousness they warrant and in fact have been largely sidelined, causing obstacles to Orang Asli educational achievement. 50 ORANG ASLI – RIGHTS, PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS