Is it a good idea to pay students to get them to attend classes?

That's one of the proposals the Toronto District School Board is considering as it attempts to reduce poverty for disadvantaged schoolchildren. Under the plan, needy kids would receive "some kind of financial benefit" for attending class, mentoring others and getting good grades.

No dollar amount has been discussed, but the plan is inspired by similar initiatives in New York City where at-risk students received $50 for receiving good grades on tests.

Board officials stressed that any decision on the idea wouldn't be made until next year at the earliest.

What do you think? Is the proposed plan nothing more than a bribery scheme or can it have a real impact on impoverished students?

Writing by Rahul Gupta.