By Zafri Razali
KUANTAN, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- The start of a school term brings a tough challenge for welfare homes, as they work to provide every child under their care with the essentials, from uniforms to books and stationery, ensuring they are fully prepared for the year ahead.
At Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baitul Husna in Kampung Pelindung, Beserah, school preparations go beyond simply purchasing necessities; they involve meticulous planning that requires adequate financial resources.
According to its manager, Zuraida Ismail, the centre, which had been operating since 2010, served as a shelter for 30 orphans and underprivileged children aged between eight and 18 from across the country.
However, she said that their reliance on public donations often limited what they could provide for the children.
“We receive a lot of donations in the form of food and clothes, but financial help is quite limited, making it tough to plan our expenses,” she told Bernama.
Zuraida shared that each child needed at least RM400 to RM500 for uniforms, books, and stationery at the start of each school session.
She expressed gratitude to the government for providing the Early Schooling Aid (BAP) of RM150 per student, as it somewhat helped ease the financial burden on the centre.
“That amount is still insufficient to cover all expenses, so the management usually plans ahead and buys items in bulk to save costs,” she said.
A resident of the centre, Mariam (not her real name), 15, said she believed the management was making the best use of the BAP funds for their needs.
“There’s no leakage issue here, as we can see how it’s spent. We make sure to use things that are still in good condition...the money is only spent on essentials,” said Mariam, who aspires to become a forensic expert.
As of Jan 10, the Ministry of Education has disbursed RM723,165,300 to 4,821,102 Year One to Form Four students in the 2024/2025 school session.
BAP distribution for Year One students in the 2025/2026 school session and existing Form Six students in the 2024/2025 session will commence on Feb 16, while new Form Six students for the 2025/2026 school session will receive their BAP starting July 1.
-- BERNAMA
