More than 155,000 students in Melaka begin receiving RM150 early schooling aid, with RM23.31 million allocated to ease parents’ financial burden
MELAKA: A total of 155,406 students from 319 primary and secondary schools in Melaka have begun receiving the RM150 Early Schooling Aid (BAP). The initiative involves a total allocation of RM23.31 million.
State education director Mahfudzah Mohamed Noor said the recipients comprised 91,536 students in Melaka Tengah, 37,796 in Alor Gajah and 26,074 in Jasin.
She stated that all schools in the state have started distributing the aid in stages. The process must be completed within 30 days to ensure the assistance can be used to purchase school supplies.
“The BAP is a government initiative aimed at easing the financial burden of parents or guardians at the start of the school session,” she told reporters.
Mahfudzah added that it involves all Malaysian students from Year One to Form Six, regardless of background, to ensure they begin the school year with sufficient equipment.
She expressed hope that the assistance would boost students’ motivation to strive for excellence. The goal is for them to grow into individuals who contribute positively to their religion, community and the nation.
In a separate development, Mahfudzah revealed that 118 primary and secondary schools in Melaka have been recognised as Inspiration Schools by the Ministry of Education.
“In 2023, only one school in Melaka received the recognition. However, the number rose to 118 in 2024, and no Focus Schools requiring immediate intervention were recorded in the state,” she said.
She explained that Inspiration Schools are high-performing institutions that excel in areas such as management strength and student development. The remaining schools in the state are currently categorised as Aspiration Schools.
Mahfudzah attributed the sharp increase to close cooperation between the education department and the state government. Strong support from stakeholders such as parents and NGOs also played a key role.
