Early schooling aid to be channelled based on existing school records, says Fadhlina

PUTRAJAYA: Parents and guardians do not need to fill out application forms to receive the RM150 Early Schooling Aid (BAP) announced on Monday (Oct 16), as it will be channelled based on existing records in their children's schools, says Fadhlina Sidek.

Speaking to the media after the closing ceremony of the International Education Counsellor Conference here Thursday (Oct 19), the Education Minister said BAP will be disbursed in January to all students.

ALSO READ: RM150 schooling aid to be paid out from January

“(BAP) is for all students. We maintain like last year. Their records are already with the school, all they (parents and guardians) have to do is to collect it from the school, just like in the previous years,” she said.

On Monday, the Education Ministry announced that the government has allocated RM788.13mil through Budget 2024 presented on Oct 13 for BAP.

ALSO READ: Education Ministry to improve early schooling aid payment process from time to time

The ministry said the BAP payments will be done as a one-off payment through the schools and channelled to students in cash or credited to their respective accounts, benefiting more than 5.25 million students.

Separately, Fadhlina said the ministry is committed to achieving the target ratio of one counsellor for 250 primary and secondary school students to ensure efficient and effective guidance and interventions for clients.

ALSO READ: Education Ministry exploring ways to efficiently monitor aid allocations to schools through PTA

Without specifying the current ratio and when the target will be achieved, she said the ministry is working hard to ensure this target can be met.

Meanwhile, in her speech, Fadhlina emphasised the need for a special counselling approach for Special Education Needs students (MBPK).

ALSO READ: Timely aid for back-to-school items

“When providing services to MBPK, guidance and counselling teachers need to understand the aspect of cross-culturalism, in this context referring to the MBPK culture who are persons with disabilities (OKU).

“Therefore, guidance and counselling teachers need to be more creative and innovative so that a specialised and more suitable counselling and guidance process can be generated and implemented for MBPK clients,” she said.

ALSO READ: No child left behind

During the event, Fadhlina also launched six documents, namely the Education Counsellor and Guidance and Counselling Teachers Competency Development Plan; Crisis Intervention Guide; Crisis Intervention Implementation Module; the MOE's Psychological Counselling Service Strategic Plan 2023/2025; Psychological Counselling and Guidance Service Guidelines for MOE; and the online Post-Suicide Incident Kit. - Bernama