KOTA KINABALU – Sabah will be rolling out three new programmes under its education development initiatives called Bagus, Bisbah, and Aksa as part of a move to uplift education standards in the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said funding for the programme will come from the RM35 million set aside by the state government this year for education development.
Bagus stands for Bantuan Aktiviti PIBG Sabah (Parent-Teacher Association Activities’ Aid), while Bisbah stands for Bantuan Ihsan Sekolah Sabah (Sabah School Charity Aid) and Aksa for Sabah Education Excellence Award.
He said the new programmes will complement the federal government’s efforts as public education is under its purview.
“This is in line with the second thrust of the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development plan introduced by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government, which empowers Sabah’s human capital,” he said in his speech during the handing over of contributions and launching of three programmes at the Banquet Hall in Menara Kinabalu today.
His speech was read by Sabah local government and housing minister and Sabah Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Hajiji said RM3 million has been distributed under the Bagus programme, which saw 1,500 parent-teacher associations receiving RM2,000 each to carry out their activities.
Under Bisbah, he said, RM12 million has been allocated to assist 1,500 schools in Sabah to acquire computers, printing machines, teaching aids, tables, and chairs.
Last year, the state spent RM15 million to provide laptops to 10,000 students facing their examinations under the computer assistance programme called Bantuan Ihsan Komputer.
RM10 million was spent on 5,000 students’ registration fees for enrolment in higher education institutions under the Bantuan Wang Pendaftaran IPT programme, with RM1,500 each given to students undertaking their diplomas and RM2,000 for those getting their first degrees.
The state also distributed RM200 each to 40,277 students registering for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, Sijjil Agama Malaysia, and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia examinations under Bantuan Khas Tunai, and the total ran up to RM8,055,400.
Hajiji said RM55 million is allocated under the 2022 state budget for scholarships to students advancing their higher learning studies, adding that priority is given to students undertaking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses.
Hajiji also said the state has allocated RM13.9 million to help students buy uniforms, shoes and stationeries under the social aid programme for schools.
Also present were state Special Affairs Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, Sabah Federal Secretary Datuk Zulkapli Mohamed, and Sabah Attorney-General Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof. – The Vibes, January 19, 2022
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