Speaking to FMT, Colin explained that these were strict visiting rules set by hostel-based secondary schools in certain states.

“I have one parent who complained to me about how he was not allowed to visit his daughter after taking the trouble of going to the hostel.

“He just wanted to pass some toiletries (soap and toothbrush) but had to deal with his daughter at the gate. So, he became a bit suspicious, suspecting that there may be certain things happening inside.”

Colin said these young students also often felt lonely, as it was not easy to get used to the hostel setting of a school.

“It would help a lot if children can go back every weekend or parents could come and visit them.”

Another factor would be the lack of an appropriate induction system to introduce these students to the hostel system, he said.

“Students staying in remote areas are suddenly forced to move to a hostel school at a young age.”

The Star Online had earlier quoted Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon as saying that less than half of Orang Asli primary school pupils moved on to secondary studies.

Sarawak state assemblyman Dennis Ngau said transport was also one of the major hurdles that students faced, especially in rural areas, where there were no proper road links and rivers were the only way to reach school.