PETALING JAYA: While parents appreciate the RM150 Early Schooling Aid (BAP), many find that this amount only scratches the surface of the costs incurred as their children start the academic year.
Begam Abdul, 54, from Ampang, said the RM150 she received was spent entirely on her daughter’s exercise books, which amounted to RM300 in total.
“There are numerous other expenses when school starts, including uniforms, school t-shirts, stationery and art supplies. With additional costs for food and school bus fees, the total can easily reach the thousand mark,” she said.
“For parents who can afford it, managing these costs is possible, but for those from less fortunate backgrounds, those kids will struggle. The government aid needs to be more proportionate and current to truly meet these needs.”Her comments follow the announcement of the Madani Economy’s achievements by the unity government, which included an increase in the BAP aid from RM100 to RM150 per pupil.
According to a handbook, the aid has been provided to some five million pupils from low-income backgrounds nationwide.
Siti Abdul Aziz, 50, says the one-off RM150 does not even cover the basic costs, as she faces additional monthly expenses for school projects.
“As a single mother of two, my budget is stretched thin. I sometimes use a credit card to get by and I keep records to stay within budget.
“I am not going to sound ungrateful because I am always happy when the government announces any aid for us. I just think given the current economic situation, it should be adjusted based on the circumstances, inflation and cost of living,” she said.
Susan Liew, 48, acknowledged that the RM150 aid helps alleviate some financial pressure at the start of the school year.
“This money is handy for purchasing new stationery items and addressing any shortfalls. However, given the rising cost of living, I hope the aid amount can be increased to RM250 per child per year,” suggested the single mother.
“Targeted assistance would better support families in need.”
Conversely, Nithya Stephen, 40, feels that RM150 is sufficient, especially since textbooks are provided free of charge.
“I don’t have anything to complain about considering that we didn’t get any financial aid from the government 30 years ago.
“Further, most parents these days have the means to splurge on non-essential things, so why complain about the little help that we are getting from the government instead of being grateful?”
Nithya also pointed out that some lower-income individuals spend money on cigarettes and luxury items, suggesting that these funds could be better allocated towards their children’s education.
Previously, the Education Ministry announced that the government will allocate RM788.13mil through the Budget 2024 for the BAP, benefiting over 5.25 million students.
More than RM67mil will be distributed to 8,903 schools nationwide starting this week, to benefit 447,982 Year One pupils.
