BAGUS, BISBAH and AKSA initiatives to boost Sabah’s education

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is spending RM35 million this year to implement education development initiatives that included three new programmes namely BAGUS, BISBAH and AKSA.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the introduction of the Bantuan Aktiviti PIBG Sabah (BAGUS), Bantuan Ihsan Sekolah Sabah (BISBAH) and the 2022 Sabah Education Excellence Award (AKSA) was in line with the GRS State Government’s commitment to uplift Sabah’s education standard.
He said that after taking over the helm, the GRS State Government placed the education portfolio under the purview of the Special Tasks Minister Office so that special attention can be given to Sabah’s education affairs.
“This does not mean that the State Government is taking over the Federal’s role and responsibility in Sabah, instead the initiatives are to complement the programmes implemented by the Federal Government in Sabah,” he said.
His speech was delivered by Minister of Local Government and Housing and State Minister of Finance II, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Hajiji said the State Government is rserious in ensuring children in Sabah gets the best possible assistance and achieve academic excellence.
“This is in line with the second thrust of the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development plan introduced by the GRS government that empowers Sabah’s human capital,” he said.
According to him, a total of RM3 million has been set aside for the BAGUS programme that will see each Parent Teacher Associations (PIBG) in 1,500 schools receiving RM2,000 to carry out their respective activities this year.
Meanwhile, under the BISBAH initiative, RM12 million has been allocated to assist 1,500 schools throughout the state in acquiring computers, printers, teaching aid equipment, desks and chairs, he said.
“The State Government will also give special recognition to outstanding Sabah students who excel academically.
“The State Government special recognition will be known as Sabah Education Excellence Award (AKSA),” he said.
On top of this, the State Government would also continue with the other assistance given in 2021 that is BAIK, BUDI and BAKTI, said Hajiji who is also Finance Minister.
Last year, the State Government approved RM15 million for the purchase of laptops under the Bantuan Ihsan Komputer (BAIK) programme to help 10,000 needy students especially those sitting for the SPM, STPM and STAM in their online studies through the home-based learning and teaching (PdPR) process because classrooms were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The State Government spent a total of RM10 million last year to help 5,000 students pay their registration fee under the Bantuan Wang Pendaftaran IPT (BUDI) with those going for diploma studies getting RM1,500 and RM2,000 for those pursuing degree courses.
Hajiji said the State Government has also given RM200 to each 40,277 Sabah students who have registered to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) last year under the Bantuan Khas Tunai Peperiksaan (BAKTI) programme costing RM8,055,400 million.
Since the SPM, STAM and STPM 2021 examinations have been postponed to March this year, the BAKTI 2021 assistance was handed to the State Education Department and Sabah Religious Affairs Department for distribution to the recipients.
In line with the commitment to develop human capital through education in the State 2022 Budget, an allocation of RM55 million has been set aside as scholarships for students to pursue higher learning.
Priority will be given to students taking science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses to meet future market demands, he said.
He also said that the State Government would ensure all Sabah children have access to education, hence RM13.9 million has been allocated to help 289,204 students buy school uniforms, shoes and stationaries under the School Social Assistance programme.
Present were Special Tasks Minister, Datuk Hj. Mohd Arifin Hj. Mohd Arif, Federal State Secretary Datuk Dr Zulkapli Mohamed, and State Attorney General Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof.