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THE Ministry of Education is prepared to distribute the Bantuan Awal Persekolahan earlier from next year, following complaints from parents that this year’s aid was only given out in the first week of the school term, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said on Thursday.
Fadhlina acknowledged the concerns, noting that the new school session had begun in January, which contributed to dissatisfaction among parents.
“Yes, this year we happened to start the school session in January. So there were indeed some complaints that we received,” she said.
“I think starting next year we will continue to improve and we take that suggestion seriously, meaning it will be given earlier so that preparations can be done earlier,” she said.
Speaking at a press conference after delivering the ministry’s 2026 New Year’s Message, Fadhlina said she hoped parents would make full use of the RM150 one-off cash assistance to purchase school necessities.
The Bantuan Awal Persekolahan is a single-payment cash aid of RM150 provided to 5.2 million students, aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and guardians in preparing for the school year.
She also reiterated remarks made earlier this week by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, urging parents to personally visit schools to meet teachers, hear progress reports and receive guidance on their children.
“I hope parents use this RM150 allocation for school needs and come to school to collect it and meet the teachers, to hear reports and also teachers’ advice regarding our children,” she said.
In a related development, Fadhlina said the issue of a potential increase in school bus fares would be raised at the Cabinet level.
“I will bring this matter to the Cabinet and look at it holistically,” she said.
Media reports have previously cited the Federation of Malaysian School Bus Associations as warning that fares are likely to rise due to higher operating costs, including insurance, drivers’ wages and vehicle spare parts. Its president, Amali Munif Rahmat, was reported as saying any increase would be entirely at the discretion of operators after the government decided in 2015 not to regulate or cap school bus fares.
Separately, Fadhlina said improving school safety was critical to maintaining parents’ and public confidence, after revealing that only 28 per cent of closed-circuit television cameras in schools nationwide were currently operational.
“Yes, that is why I said that when we talk about school safety, it is a matter of parents’ and the community’s confidence in us. So, if only 28 per cent are functioning, it is our responsibility to resolve it,” she said.
She clarified that the affected schools included both fully residential schools and day schools.
Fadhlina said all education authorities had been instructed to ensure existing surveillance systems were repaired and operational, adding that steps had already been taken to address the problem.
“Some were carried out by parent-teacher associations, some through cooperation with the private sector, and some through collaboration with community associations,” she said.
“The Education Ministry has maintenance provisions, and we will ensure they continue to function,” she added.
The minister also announced that an additional 300 CCTV cameras would be installed in selected schools nationwide.
She stressed that the expansion must be accompanied by accountability.
“This must go hand in hand with the responsibility to ensure that they truly function,” she said. - January 9, 2025
