Government praises YBR's contribution in education
KOTA BELUD: The government praises the effort of Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR) in helping society, specifically the less well-to-do, to progress in education.
Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the effort of YBR could help the government to create a 21st-century learning ecosystem to ensure the National Education Philosophy was achieved.
"We have entered the Second wave of the Malaysian Educational Development Plan (PPPM) with a determination to continue to endeavour to boost the quality of education.
"In this matter, the outcomes of pupils should be viewed holistically and comprehensively in terms of academic, personality, co-curriculum and sports," he said at a YBR programme here today.
Salleh, who is also Usukan State Assemblyman, said the government always stressed the importance of education and had implemented numerous incentives to ensure the people had access to education.
"In the past, parents were charged a mandatory fee, but now all these fees are abolished.
"In addition, textbook loans are provided depending on parental income levels. Now it is given to all students," he said.
In addition, Salleh said the government also provided RM100 1Malaysia Special Early School Aid which benefited 3.2 million pupils.
He also noted that Malaysia's education expenditure was double compared to other Asean countries, but the government spent an average of RM8,900 per student a year.
"This shows how the current government, the Barisan Nasional stresses on education for Malaysians, despite the negative views of certain parties who always criticise the government's noble effort to help the people," he said.
According to Salleh, the facilities, which were provided by the government due to political stability, also enabled the government to continue the agenda of national development.
"So, we hope this can be continued in the future ... only BN can implement it," he said.
In the programme, 250 pupils in the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency received RM100 and school bags from YBR.
A total of 10 were also picked to receive the People's Tuition aid of RM1,440 for each school.
Also present was YBR chairman Tan Sri Shukry Mohd Salleh. — Bernama