KGBS calls for Form Six allowance to reflect Sarawak students’ needs

KUCHING (Aug 29): The proposed allowance for Form Six students should take into account the realities faced by students in Sarawak, particularly those living in rural areas who have to bear higher transportation costs, says the Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS).

Its president, Zulkiflee Sebli, said KGBS welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that the federal government would provide an allowance for Form Six students through Budget 2027.

“KGBS hopes that the implementation of this initiative will be inclusive, easily accessible and take into account the realities of students in Sarawak, including those living in rural areas who have to bear higher travel costs,” he said in a statement.

He said the allowance would help ease the financial burden on families, particularly in covering transportation, food, learning materials and other schooling needs.

Zulkiflee said the initiative should also be viewed as an investment in human capital rather than merely financial assistance.

“Form Six students need to be given appropriate support so that they can focus on their studies and achieve the best academic results,” he said.

He said the allowance was also a form of recognition of the role of Form Six education as an important pathway to higher education.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, announced on Friday that the government had agreed to provide an allocation for a Form Six student allowance under Budget 2027.

He said the decision was made after taking into account that Form Six students currently did not receive an allowance, despite financial assistance being provided to students from primary school to Form Five, as well as those at university level.

Anwar said the amount of the allowance had yet to be determined and would depend on the Government’s financial capacity when Budget 2027 is tabled in October.

The proposed allowance was among 12 resolutions raised by student delegates at the Madani Pre-University Congress in Klang.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said the Education Ministry had accepted all 12 resolutions and would study them for possible improvements and implementation.

Zulkiflee said parents and educators were looking forward to further details of the announcement in Budget 2027.

“KGBS records its appreciation to the Madani Government for this concern and hopes that the announcement can be realised at a reasonable rate with a clear disbursement mechanism,” he said.

He said the initiative could help ensure that financial constraints did not prevent students from accessing quality education.