RM35mil to implement education development initiatives this year
Published on: Monday, January 24, 2022
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Minister II, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (centre) who represented the Chief Minister presenting two mock cheques totalling RM8,054,800 under Bakti programmes to Special Tasks Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif and others that will give cash aid to students sitting for SPM, STPM and STAM. 2021
The GRS State Government is spending RM35 million this year to implement education development initiatives that include three new programmes Bantuan Aktiviti PIBG Sabah (Bagus), Bantuan Ihsan Sekolah Sabah (Bisbah) and the 2022 Sabah Education Excellence Award (Aksa).Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor said these are in line with the GRS State Government’s commitment to uplift Sabah’s education standard. After taking over the helm, he said the GRS State Government placed the education portfolio under the Special Tasks Minister Office so that special attention can be given to Sabah’s education affairs.
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The State Government is serious in ensuring Sabah’s young get the best possible assistance and achieve academic excellence.
“This is in line with the second thrust of the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development plan introduced by the GRS Government that empowers Sabah’s human capital,” he said.
Some RM3m has been set aside for Bagus that would see Parent Teacher Associations (PIBG) in 1,500 schools receiving RM2,000 to carry out their activities this year, while under Bisbah, RM12m has been allocated to assist 1,500 schools throughout the state in acquiring computers, printers, teaching aid equipment, desks and chairs.
“The State Government will also give special recognition to outstanding Sabah students who excel academically, which will be known as Sabah Education Excellence Award (Aksa),” he said.
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This is in addition to existing assistance programmes since 2021, namely Bantuan Ihsan Komputer (Baik), Bantuan Wang Pendaftaran IPT (Bakti).
Last year, the State Government approved RM15 million for the purchase of laptops under BAIK to help 10,000 needy students especially those sitting for the SPM, STPM and STAM in their online studies through the home-based learning and teaching (PdPR) process because classrooms were shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic
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The State Government spent RM10m last year to help 5,000 students pay their registration fees under the Bantuan Wang Pendaftaran IPT (Budi) with those going for diploma studies getting RM1,500 and RM2,000 for those pursuing degree courses.
The State Government also gave RM200 to 40,277 Sabah students who registered to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) last year under the Bantuan Khas Tunai Peperiksaan (Bakti) programme costing RM8,055,400.
Since the SPM, STAM and STPM 2021 examinations have been postponed to March this year, the Bakti 2021 assistance was handed to the State Education Department and Sabah Religious Affairs Department for distribution to the recipients.
In line with the commitment to develop human capital through education in the State 2022 Budget, RM55m has been set aside as scholarships for students to pursue higher learning.
Priority will be given to students taking science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses to meet future market demands, he said.
He also said the State Government would ensure all Sabah children have access to education, hence RM13.9m has been allocated to help 289,204 students buy school uniforms, shoes and stationaries under the School Social Assistance programme.
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