LABUAN: A total of RM800mil in Early Schooling Aid (BAP) has been approved to benefit 5.2 million schoolchildren nationwide, the Education Ministry revealed.
Its secretary-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim said the RM150 per student assistance was to ease the financial burden on parents when buying uniforms, shoes and stationery.
He said the disbursement of the aid began this week, with funds handed directly to students.
“We use the method of direct cash distribution to students instead of crediting bank accounts because we want the children to feel the assistance and understand that the government is supporting their education,” he told reporters after presenting the aid to primary and secondary students here yesterday.
A total of 19,001 students received the BAP, involving an allocation of RM2.7mil for students from government and government-aided schools across the island, he said.
Aminuddin said the BAP is part of a broader package of support measures provided by the ministry, which currently administers 18 different assistance schemes for schoolchildren, including aid related to sports, co-curricular activities and student welfare.
“These initiatives reflect the government’s seriousness and commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind due to financial constraints, and that students from all backgrounds can focus on their studies,” he said.
He said early financial assistance plays an important role in promoting school attendance and readiness, especially among families with multiple school-going children, as the new school term begins.
