Kota Kinabalu: The State Government allocated RM75.5 million this year to implement 13 educational assistance initiatives for students, schools, parent-teacher associations and student associations, both domestically and abroad.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the the initiatives continued this year are the One-Off Higher Education Registration Cash Assistance (Budi), Computer Aid (Baik), Special Examination Cash Aid (Bakti) and the State Education Savings Incentive (Bistari).
Also, the Parent-Teacher Association Activity Aid (Bagus), Sabah School Humanitarian Assistance (Bisbah), Small School Maintenance Assistance (Balkis), Special Education Programme Aid (Bantu), Sabah Education Excellence Award (Aksa), Sabah Malaysia Student Secretariat (Semesta) and Sabah Student Flight Ticket Assistance (GRS-SUBFLY).
He said for the Budi initiative alone, the Government allocated RM20m with a target of 10,000 students, while Bakti has received RM8m with a target of 40,000 students this year.
“All these initiatives are in line with the State Government’s policy as stipulated in the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) policy, reflecting our continuous commitment to making education the core of human capital development in the State,” he said when launching the State Government’s latest initiative – Contribution for Students of Higher Education Institutions in Sabah (Sentosa) – at Gaya Campus Teacher Education Institute hall, Thursday.
Hajiji said the Government has also introduced a new initiative, the One-Off Contribution for School Activity (Sukses), to all schools across Sabah. Each school would receive RM3,000 to carry out activities or to purchase school necessities.
Additionally, the State Government increased the fund for the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS) from RM51 million to RM128 million by 2025.
“With this substantial increase, along with several other educational incentives, it is hoped that more young people from Sabah will have the opportunity to receive educational assistance, especially those pursuing further studies, whether in the country or abroad, including in religious studies or Islamic education,” he said.
He has announced the GRS-SUBFLY subsidy aid for all public and private university students studying in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Labuan, contributing RM600 per person, with a total expenditure of over RM10m.
According to him, as a caring State Government that always listens to the grievances of the people, young Sabahans studying in public and private higher education institutions within Sabah would not be forgotten.
They would receive assistance through Sentosa, a one-off aid of RM300 each, involving an allocation of RM6 million for an estimated 20,000 students.
“I announced the Sentosa assistance last November. Therefore, I hope it alleviates the financial burden on students returning home before Aidilfitri celebrations,” he said.
He said the numerous initiatives and assistance provided to the people, especially students, are aimed at producing knowledgeable and educated human capital, which will help develop the State.
Education is a fundamental foundation for the younger generation, serving as a primary means to cultivate them as quality, knowledgeable heirs of the nation with noble values.
In line with this, the State Government, through its departments and agencies, is taking initiatives to assist young Sabahans by providing various educational supports and contributions to ease the burden on parents, ensuring that children are not left behind in the mainstream.
He said education financing, such as scholarship sponsorships, study aid, study loans, zakat assistance and educational assistance, are initiatives that have been implemented by the departments and agencies under the State Government.
“The State Government is working closely with the Federal Government to realise the agenda of strengthening and enhancing educational excellence and quality in Sabah, including improving and upgrading the educational infrastructure in the State.”
