RIYADH: A charity organization, Takaful, assisting poor Saudi students, revealed that 137,000 Saudi students are in need of assistance, representing 55 percent out of 250,000 students receiving assistance from the foundation.

The foundation, which supports students, gave grants to about 101,000 jobless parents of students and 11,000 orphans, in addition to 184,000 whose parents’ income is less SR1,000.

According to the foundation, middle-school students came in second in terms of Takaful services beneficiaries. They represented 26 percent, followed by secondary school students at 19 percent. Students receive SR1,600 every semester if they meet the criteria.

The foundation called on departments of education in the regions and provinces to encode the data of the students covered by Takaful through its online system.