Over 150,000 Students In Melaka Receive Early Schooling Aid Worth RM23.31 Million

MELAKA, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- A total of 155,406 students from 319 primary and secondary schools in Melaka began receiving the RM150 Early Schooling Aid (BAP) starting today, involving an 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.

“All schools in Melaka have begun distributing the BAP in stages starting today and must complete the process 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. 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 told reporters here today.

She said this after accompanying Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh during a visit on the first day of the school session and the presentation of the 2026 BAP at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kampung Gelam here today.

Mahfudzah said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring more inclusive and comprehensive access to education for all segments of society.

She expressed hope that the assistance would boost students’ motivation to strive for excellence and grow into individuals who contribute positively to their religion, community and the nation in the future.

In another development, she said 118 primary and secondary schools in Melaka have been recognised as Inspiration Schools by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

“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.

“The remaining schools are categorised as Aspiration Schools, and we hope that all 319 schools in Melaka will be recognised as Inspiration Schools in the near future,” she said, adding that Inspiration Schools are high-performing institutions that excel in areas such as management strength, student development, as well as teacher and school achievements.

She added that the sharp increase in the number of Inspiration Schools within a short period was driven by several factors, including close cooperation between the education department and the state government, as well as strong support from stakeholders such as parents, school management, district education offices, non-governmental organisations and the wider community.

-- BERNAMA