The announcement follows a resolution adopted by Form Six students during the two-day Kongres Prauniversiti Madani.
PETALING JAYA: Form Six students are set to receive an allowance from next year, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announcing that funding for the initiative will be included in the 2027 Budget.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the decision followed concerns raised by students during a dialogue session with him.
He noted that Form Six students were currently the only group between secondary and tertiary education not receiving an allowance.
“From Year One to Form Five, there is an allowance. University students have allowances. Form Six, pre-university, does not.
“So I have announced that in our Budget in October, I will approve the allocation and allowance for Form Six students,” he said during the Temu Anwar session at IPG Kampus Tuanku Bainun today.
However, Anwar said the amount had yet to be determined and would depend on the government’s financial position.
The announcement follows a resolution adopted by Form Six students during the two-day Kongres Prauniversiti Madani.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek had earlier said the allowance was among 12 resolutions approved by the students, all of which she had accepted.
The congress brought together Form Six students from across the country to debate motions and discuss issues affecting them.
Fadhlina said young people should be given the freedom to question and challenge ideas instead of being expected to accept them without discussion.
“If we truly want to hear the voices of young people, we must also be brave enough to give them space to express different views.
“That is why Kongres Prauniversiti Madani was established,” she said in a social media post.
She said the students conducted their debates in a chamber modelled on Parliament, providing them with an opportunity to gain early exposure to parliamentary discussions and decision-making.
Fadhlina also announced an additional RM100 book voucher for each congress delegate and said she had sponsored 100 copies of Salina for Arts stream students.
Meanwhile, Anwar said education continued to receive the largest allocation under the Madani government’s budget, although he acknowledged that more funding could still be provided.
“Is it enough? Not yet. Not enough. But all ministries have to be funded. Education receives the largest allocation because we think about the future,” he said.
He urged Form Five and Form Six students, as well as trainee teachers, to take their education seriously while developing discipline, critical thinking and respect for others.
Anwar stressed that academic achievement should be balanced with strong character and ethical values.
He also called for equal educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged families, rural communities, estates, low-income urban areas and remote parts of the country.
Anwar said young Malaysians would play an important role in shaping the country’s future, particularly as Malaysia continues to expand in fields including artificial intelligence, information technology, semiconductors, education and the public service.
He reminded students that achieving their goals would require hard work and determination, stressing that there were no shortcuts to success.
