Sabah tops free school breakfast list
Published on: Tuesday, January 21, 2020
By: Sherell Jeffrey
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has the most number of schools selected for the improved Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) which kicked off nationwide Monday. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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A total of 100 schools across the country have been selected for the programme, of which 13 schools involving 5,423 pupils are in Sabah.
State Education Director Mistirine Radin, while making her rounds monitoring the breakfast distribution at SK Kebagu noted there is still room for improvement.
“There is no problem in terms of food preparation, only the eating place. I believe the school will improve on this, perhaps add more chairs and tables for the pupils to have their breakfast in one place,” she said.
She also stressed the need to instil hygienic practices such as washing hands before meals. “Maybe we can also get pupils involved in leading prayers before every meal.
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“The programme aims to provide nutritious supplements to pupils from low-income families with a monthly income of RM1,180 and below,” she said.
Pupils were seen enjoying their meal of nasi lemak, banana and a cup of hot milo. Among them was Primary Six Nurul Qharriah Pormin who thanked the government for providing the meal.
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“My breakfast is usually bread or biscuits and a hot drink. It’s nice to be able to have something different,” said Nurul who comes from a family of fishermen.
The excitement was shared by two other Primary Four pupils, Aliff Naufal Azri and Mohd Shanil Mohd Noh. “It’s nice being able to have this delicious breakfast with our friends at school,” they quipped.
The schools in Sabah are SK Kebagu in Kota Kinabalu with 415 eligible pupils, SK Kulambai Kota Belud (401), SK Tandek Kota Marudu (451), SK St James (M) Kudat (425), SK Pinggan-Pinggan Pitas (403), SK Binsulok Beaufort (250), SK Kundasang Ranau (419), SK Penangah Telupid (335), SK Bukit Garam Kinabatangan (432), SK Kabogan Semporna (450), SK Umas-Umas Tawau (546), SK Nambayan Tambunan (283) and SK Pekan Nabawan Pensiangan (613).
The free breakfast programme was proposed by former Education Minister, Maszlee Malik last year to ensure that pupils have a nutritious meal to start their day.
The proposal, however, was not well received by some, including non-governmental organisation Community Empowerment Initiative Sabah, which pointed out in October last year that repairs on dilapidated schools are more urgent than free school breakfasts.
On Jan 16, Prime Minister cum acting Education Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, announced that the Ministry will proceed with the programme for national schools from Jan. 20.
The programme which initially aimed to benefit 2.7 million pupils is estimated to cost between RM800 million and RM1.67 billion and now only for eligible pupils from the low-income group.
The cost of implementing the programme is RM2.50 and RM3 per pupil in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan. Breakfast time is between 7am and 7.30am for the morning session and 12.30pm and 2pm for afternoon session (except Friday at regular intervals).
Meanwhile, SK Kebagu Parent-Teacher Association Chairman, Marzuki Utuhmam hoped that every pupil attending the morning session would be included as well.
“We are told that only those eligible for the programme will be getting the assistance. However it would be best if all morning session pupil are listed because some might not have breakfast at home,” he said.
According to him, almost 90 per cent of parents in Kg Kebagu are fishermen. The school has 644 pupils but only 415 are eligible for the programme.
Meanwhile, Mistirine said influenza issues among school students is still under control in Sabah.
“As of Friday, we reported 12 pupils from eight primary schools across Sabah to the Education Ministry,” she said, adding that all are being treated in the hospital.
Also present was Kota Kinabalu District Education Officer, Tah Nia Jaman, and SK Kebagu Headmaster, Mazlan Osman, among others.
