More than 8,000 Year 13 students, who will begin their final year of secondary education today, will receive the $200 Back to School support this week.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad confirmed that the support was well-timed.

He noted that more than $100 million had been paid so far through this initiative over the past three years.

“Many parents have used these funds in a very productive way,” Prof Prasad said.

“The feedback that we are getting from villages, from settlements, from everywhere, is how timely it is, how important it is, and how quickly it adds to the support that parents have right at the beginning of the school year, where children are going to school with properly equipped uniforms, sandals, bags, and lunch boxes.”

He emphasised that the initiative was part of the Coalition Government’s overall strategy to reduce the burden on low-income families.

“It (Back-to-School assistance) is working very well, and this is very targeted assistance.”

The Coalition Government has assisted more than 200,000 students through the Back to School Support this year.