More financial aid for Sabahan students
Published on: Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Dr Arifin said the establishment of the Sabah Student Secretariat (Semesta), aims to be a liaison body that listens to the voice of Sabah students.
THE Special Tasks and Coordination Ministry is able to give more assistance and support to educational institutions, next year, following an overall amount of RM43 million, an increase of RM8 million, compared to 2022.Its Minister Datuk Dr Arifin Mohd Arif said the seven educational aid programmes would be continued apart from a few new ones, starting next year.
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“The seven educational aids to be continued in 2023 are the One-Off IPT (higher learning institutions) Registration Cash Assistance (BUDI) being allocated of RM10 million to benefit a target of 5,000 students with assistance of RM1,500 for Diploma and RM2,000 for Degree.
“Second is the Special Examination Cash Assistance (Bakti) whereby an allocation of RM8 million to benefit a target of 40,000 students who will sit for SPM, STPM and STAM (Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia) with a one-off fee of RM200 per person.
“Thirdly, the Courtesy Computer Assistance To Students (BAIK) with an allocation of RM2 million to benefit 1,000 students
“Fourthly the Sabah Teacher and Parent Activity Assistance (Bagus) with an allocation of RM3 million for 1,500 Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) with one-off assistance of RM2,000.00 each,” he said.
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The fifth is the Special Education Excellence Award (Aksa) with RM100,000 funding whereby an Incentive payment of RM2,000/RM5,000 at the National level and RM4,000/RM6,000 at the International level.
“The sixth educational aid is the Assistance Courtesy of Sabah Education Fund (Bistari) with a given allocation of RM2 million to benefit 10,000 babies of B40 and M40 families born in 2023 by giving RM200 savings in SSPN (Sijil Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional).
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“The seventh is the Courtesy Aid for Sabah Schools (Bisbah) is assistance in the form of providing school equipment such as computers, printers, and furniture, among others, to 1,600 national schools and religious schools with an allocation of RM12 million,” he said.
As for the other new education assistance initiative for next year, Dr Arifin said the first is the Special Education Assistance which is also known as Bantu, which is financial assistance for associations and educators to implement programmes to advance education in Sabah with an allocation of RM500,000.
He said the second is the Small Schools Maintenance Assistance” named Balkis whereby RM3 million is allocated for maintenance assistance and small work improvements in schools that cost RM50,000 or less.
Dr Arifin said the establishment of the Sabah Student Secretariat (Semesta), aims to be a liaison body that listens to the voice of Sabah students.
“Semesta was launched by the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor on Oct 30, this year and it is an intermediary body in conveying information regarding policies of the Sabah state government to Sabah students’ associations.
“It is also to ensure that movements and activities of Sabah student associations throughout Malaysia and the world are in line with the direction of SMJ.
“Through Semesta, student associations can also help provide student information to complete the Sabah Education Information System (SIPS), which is being developed by the ministry,” he said.
Dr Arifin said currently, the syllabus for Year One pupils has been replaced by the Assessment Curriculum Standard Document (DSKP) starting in 2011 and its objectives differ according to the subject.
Overall, the DSKP has been able to produce students who have reached mastery level 3 (minimum level of mastering the subject).
He said writing for Year One only involves basic writing and is not too burdensome for the pupils. For example, he added a picture of a ball is given and the pupil is asked to write the name of the object in the picture.
On the Ministry’s plans to overcome teacher shortages, especially in English and Mathematics, Dr Arifin said the MOE always provides information about the shortage of teachers including in Sabah to government education agencies such as the Institute of Teachers’ Education (IPG), the Education Service Commission (SPP) and the Public Service Department (JPA).
Such information is conveyed to those agencies to recruit more trainee teachers and then absorb them into the Education Ministry.
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