CM: WeHelp can help to achieve human capital development agenda
KOTA KINABALU: The State Education Department’s WeHelp programme is able to help the State Government’s efforts to succeed in the human capital development agenda in Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said it is certain that through the initiative of the programme, the channeling of targeted aid can definitely have a positive impact on those who receive it.
“I hope that the handing over of aid today for the year 2024 will achieve its objective and be able to give positive implications to the target group who will ultimately be able to contribute towards the development and prosperity of the state as well as the well-being of the people.
“The State Government will always support every effort of the State Education Department in producing knowledgeable, educated and skilled human capital in the state,” he said.
He said this in conjunction with the launching ceremony of the WeHelp programme, handover of spectacles, school bags and cheque at SMK Badin Tuaran here on Monday.
The text of his speech was delivered by the Executive Chairman of Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd, Datuk Jasnih Daya.
Hajiji said that programmes like this are very important to help the development of children’s education in line with the second core of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) direction which refers to human capital and the well-being of the people.
“There is no doubt that through hard work and dedication through the State Education Department’s WeHelp Programme initiative, every student in the state can be helped according to their individual needs based on the profiling obtained through the student needs survey,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the State Government always cares and is concerned about the living conditions of all citizens, including the education of Sabah’s children, especially the B40 group.
He said this is because they are the human capital that will continue the government’s agenda through the direction of the SMJ Development Plan.
“For that reason, the State Government has provided a number of education assistance programs for school students, including one-off HEI Registration Cash Assistance (BUDI), Computer Courtesy Assistance (BAIK), Examination Cash Assistance (BAKTI) and the Sabah Education Excellence Award (AKSA).
“In addition, the State Government has also increased the State Government scholarship fund from only RM50 million to RM101 million per year.
“This is to ensure that more qualified Sabah children have the opportunity to obtain scholarships in their efforts to continue their studies to a higher level.
“All this assistance has not only provided many benefits, especially in reducing the financial burden of the poor and B40, but also to ensure that no children are marginalized from getting educational opportunities in this state,” he said.
He said this step is in line with the initiative to produce more educated people and the development of human capital as contained in the goals of the SMJ Direction Policy.
The Chief Minister also expressed his appreciation and thanks to all the contributors of aid to the students in the state such as the Sabah Zakat Center, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and Sabah State Baitulmal Corporation.