KUCHING: The Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers’ Union (KGBS) has welcomed the government’s decision to extend the RM150 Early Schooling Assistance (BAP) to Form Six students but stresses that this amount is still insufficient to cover the increasing costs of education.
Its president, Zulkiflee Sebli, said the government’s decision demonstrated concern for education at the higher level, which had often been overlooked.
“This step clearly helps ease the burden of initial preparations such as purchasing books, stationery and basic learning needs at the start of the school year,” he told Sarawak Tribune yesterday (Jan5)
However, he said that the RM150 was still not enough to cover the total expenses that parents incurred throughout the school year.
He said that these included the cost of additional textbooks, uniforms and certain fees.
“This is evident when we consider the rising cost of education and the increasingly complex learning requirements,” he added.
Commenting on the views of teachers, he said that the assistance had a positive impact on students’ initial preparations as they attended school with better basic supplies and improved self-confidence.
“This situation indirectly helps students start the learning session in a more organised, focused and motivated manner,”
“KGBS hopes that the government will continue the BAP initiative and consider improvements, including reviewing the amount of assistance in line with the current cost of living to ensure fairer and more inclusive access to education,” he said.
At the same time, Zulkiflee also urged companies and large conglomerates to fulfil their corporate social responsibility (CSR) by helping with the early schooling preparations of students, especially those from less privileged families.
