THE 2025 school year officially begins tomorrow for Group B states, while schools in Group A—Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu—already opened their doors today.
With the start of the 2025 school session tomorrow, many parents in Malaysia flocked to free haircut services to prepare their children for the new school year.
The event dubbed ‘Jom Gunting Rambut Percuma’, was organised by Putrajaya UMNO, and quickly became a hit, drawing over 100 people by 9am. The high turnout highlighted the overwhelming demand for last-minute grooming before school resumed.
Mohd Nazrin Abdul Wahab, 43, expressed his appreciation for the initiative, noting that many local barbershops were fully booked.
“It’s the last day before school starts, and most barber shops have long waiting times. This programme really helps us out,” Bernama reported Nazrin saying, adding he suggested that similar initiatives could benefit parents further, such as offering free tuition and other student support services.
For Nur Azleen Jamaluddin, 38, the event was a much-needed solution.
She brought her preschool-aged child for a haircut, after being unable to get an appointment at the barbershops. “I saw the event advertised on social media and came straight here.
This programme has really eased my burden,” she shared. Despite the barbers being graduates of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, Nur Azleen was satisfied with the quality of the haircut.
The event, which was held in collaboration with GiatMara Shah Alam, featured 10 barbers. In addition to offering free services, the programme aimed to inspire young people to pursue careers in TVET fields.
In addition to the free haircut initiative, parents also took advantage of the *MADANI Mega Sales Programme* and *Back-to-School* event at Dewan De’Seri Endon, where they could purchase essential school supplies at discounted prices.
Badruzzaman Abdul Rahim, 56, highlighted the convenience of these sales, noting how they helped ease financial pressures during the back-to-school rush. “It’s the final round of preparations—getting items like stationery at reasonable prices. Everything is conveniently available in one place,” he said.
Abuzar Saaban, 38, agreed, saying that the discounts were a relief in light of upcoming financial commitments. “Preparing for school costs a lot. These programmes help parents save money, especially with Ramadan approaching,” he added.
The 2025 school year officially begins tomorrow for Group B states, which include Melaka, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan. Schools in Group A—Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu—already opened their doors today.
In Kedah, 349,966 students across 752 schools returned to class today, with 200,574 primary school students and 149,392 secondary school students.
The cohort also includes 29,934 Year One students and 30,194 Form One students. Ismail Othman, the state’s education director, observed students reconnecting with their friends after a long holiday during his visit to Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Genting near Pendang.
Terengganu saw 256,869 students returning to school, including 149,314 primary and 107,555 secondary students. Jelani Sulong, Terengganu’s Education Department Director, noted that Year One enrollment had increased by over 1,000 students, reaching a total of 23,254.
He also shared that during the first week of school, there would be no formal teaching and learning, with schools focusing on orientation to help students adjust to the school environment.
Furthermore, Terengganu’s government recently distributed RM36,224,100 in Early Schooling Aid (BAP) to over 241,000 students from Year One to Form Five. The state plans to distribute additional aid for Form Six and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia students later this month.
In Kelantan, 259,048 students from 595 schools began their school year today. Despite challenges from last year’s floods, all affected schools are now operational.
Deputy Director Mat Lazim Mohamad also emphasized precautions for the upcoming monsoon season, advising schools to encourage students to wear face masks and stay hydrated, as the weather could turn extremely hot.
Across the three states, parents were seen making final preparations to ensure their children were ready for school. Many took advantage of the BAP to purchase school supplies at discounted prices.
Norhafizah Rejab, 37, used the aid to buy her daughter’s school uniform, saying it was sufficient for a basic set of attire. “It doesn’t have to be branded, just enough for the school year,” she told Bernama.
Other parents, like Md Irwan Effendy Muhammad Ariffin from Kedah, used the final days before school to complete last-minute preparations, buying necessary items like school uniforms and stationery for his youngest child.
“I reused what we could from last year and bought what was needed for this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Kelantan, some parents, like Mazira Ismail, 42, were able to avoid the last-minute rush by purchasing school supplies ahead of time. “I prefer to buy early so I don’t have to deal with crowded stores or worry about sizes selling out,” she said.
With the new school year underway, parents in Malaysia are feeling a mix of relief and anticipation, having taken advantage of various programs to prepare their children for the challenges ahead. – February 16, 2025
