KUCHING: Yayasan Sarawak is targeting 30,000 students from 1,460 schools across Sarawak to benefit from its School Uniform Assistance Programme this year.
Its director Datuk Junaidi Mohidin said the initiative, under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), has been allocated RM20 million for its implementation.
Since then, he said the programme has benefited 87,311 students throughout Sarawak from 2021 to 2024, with around 20,000 recipients annually. Each student receives RM200 in assistance, with an annual allocation of RM4 million.
“We are well aware that with the current rising cost of living, underprivileged groups will certainly feel the burden.
“Providing school necessities for children is one of the responsibilities that parents have to bear, increasing household expenses, and parents will have to prioritise what is most important. This could lead to cases such as students dropping out of school.
“Therefore, through this initiative, at the very least, we can reduce the burden on parents in preparing their children for school,” he said.
Junaidi said this during his welcoming speech at the school uniform handover ceremony for Yayasan Kemajuan Insan Sarawak (YAKIN) students held at Wisma Adenan, Yayasan Sarawak here today (Apr 26).
He added that the initiative’s allocation has increased from RM4 million to RM6 million per year, allowing a larger number of students to benefit.
Junaidi also said that Yayasan Sarawak has established close cooperation with strategic partners such as the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS) and the Resident and District Offices throughout Sarawak to ensure that this aid is channeled to eligible school students.
“With the increase in funding, all schools — both primary and secondary — will have recipients for this assistance.
“Each school will be given a specific quota and must nominate eligible students to receive aid under this programme,” he said.
The programme saw 71 students from Yayasan Kemajuan Insan Sarawak (YAKIN) receive assistance, including 30 students from SMK Green Road, 6 from SMK Batu Lintang, and 35 from SMK Bandar Samariang. All come from low-income families, including those supported by single mothers and orphans.
The school uniform aid package includes school uniforms, accessories such as belts, bags, socks and school shoes, sportswear (tracksuits), and club and society uniforms.
In addition, he said Yayasan Sarawak has also introduced other educational assistance programmes extending up to higher education.
He urged the students to take advantage of the educational facilities provided and to strive to elevate their educational level to greater heights.
