THE Early Schooling Assistance (BAP) from the Federal Government is expected to benefit more than 5.2 million students in 2026.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan said the beneficiaries would include Form 6 students.
He said this when attending an event at Sekolah Kebangsaan Subang Bestari, in his parliamentary constituency of Sungai Buloh, where an initial BAP allocation of about RM355,000 was disbursed to 2,363 pupils on Tuesday.
"This amount is expected to increase in line with the increase in the number of students for the 2026 school session,” he said.
The BAP initiative started in 2023 through the Education Ministry with an allocation of RM765mil, said Ramanan.
“This allocation increased to RM788mil in 2024 and RM791mil in 2025.
“It reflects the Government's inclusive approach in ensuring fair and equitable access to education for all children,” he added.
Starting Jan 11 this year, the Early Schooling Assistance amounting to RM150 is distributed in stages to every Malaysian student.
According to Ramanan, the total allocation for BAP 2026 reaches RM800mil, "which is the highest in the history of its implementation".
“This continuous increase in allocation clearly reflects the Government's strong commitment to strengthening the country's education system.
“I hope that all parents and guardians can take full advantage of this assistance by making the best possible plans to ensure that their children's schooling needs are provided for,” the Sungai Buloh MP added.
