Govt spends RM10 million for Back to School program
KOTA KINABALU: Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad has advised parents to take advantage of the school’s clothing and footwear provided by the government.
She said parents, especially those with low income should benefit from the assistance provided to reduce the expenses on their children’s schooling preparation.
“Actually, parents do not have to buy clothes and school shoes because the government does provide free clothes and shoes.
“If the size given is quite large, parents can inform the teacher to change the clothes and shoes to the size appropriate to their child,” he said when met by reporters during the ‘Back to School’ program with Giant and his ministry for the Sepanggar parliamentary constutuency in Manggatal yesterday.
Jainab said the government spent about RM10 million to provide free school clothes and footwear for schoolchildren, so it was a loss if the aid was not fully utilized by parents.
For that reason, she advised parents to work with the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) and the school in ensuring the size of their children’s clothing and footwear was appropriate.
Jainab also reminded parents to use the initial RM100 school assistance wisely.
“I have also recommended to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism to provide information on shops offering low priced items so that parents can spend prudently,” she added.
Jainab also reckoned that high-income parents should help contribute to the school’s PTA so that more poor students can be helped.
One hundred students received school equipment assistance contributed as part of Giant’s corporate social responsibility.