PUTRAJAYA, Oct 19 — Parents and guardians do not need to fill out application forms to receive the RM150 Early Schooling Aid (BAP) announced on Monday (October 16), as it will be channelled based on their children’s existing school records, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Speaking to the press after today’s closing ceremony of the International Education Counsellor Conference, she said BAP will be disbursed in January to all students.
“(BAP) is for all students; we maintain it like last year. Their records are already with the school; all they (parents and guardians) have to do is to collect it from the school as done before, just like in the previous years,” Fadhlina said.
On Monday, the Education Ministry (MoE) said the government had allocated RM788.13 million through Budget 2024, presented on Friday (October 13) for BAP.
It said the BAP payments would be done as a one-off payment through the schools and channelled to students in cash or credited to their respective accounts, benefiting over 5.25 million students.
Separately, the minister said the MOE is committed to achieving the target ratio of one counsellor for 250 primary and secondary school students to ensure efficient and effective guidance and interventions for clients.
Without specifying the current ratio and when the target will be achieved, she said the ministry is working hard to meet this target.
Meanwhile, Fadhlina emphasised the need for a special counselling approach for Special Education Needs students (MBPK) in her speech.
“When providing services to MBPK, guidance and counselling teachers need to understand the aspect of cross-culturalism, in this context, referring to the MBPK culture who are disabled persons (PwD).
“Therefore, guidance and counselling teachers need to be more creative and innovative so a specialised and more suitable counselling and guidance process can be generated and implemented for MBPK clients,” she said.
During the event, Fadhlina also launched six documents, namely the Education Counsellor and Guidance and Counselling Teachers Competency Development Plan, the Crisis Intervention Guide, the Crisis Intervention Implementation Module, the MOE’s Psychological Counselling Service Strategic Plan 2023/2025, the Psychological Counselling and Guidance Service Guidelines for MOE, and the online Post-Suicide Incident Kit.
— Bernama
