THOUGH he lived a stone's throw from his school, Telok Kurau Secondary School student Muhammad Taufiq Abdul Rahman was often late for class.

Most days, he only attended school because if he did not turn up, he would have to explain his absence to supervisors at the children's home where he lived.

But last year, the 16-year-old found a reason to go to school. Telok Kurau introduced electives such as hairstyling, beauty therapy and hospitality for academically poor students, in order to keep their interest in learning alive.

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