THE government praised the effort of Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR) in helping society, specifically the less fortunate to progress in education.

Minister of Communications and Multimedia Salleh Said Keruak said YBR could help the government to create a 21st century learning ecosystem to ensure the National Education Philosophy was achieved.

“We have entered the Second wave of the Malaysian Educational Development Plan with a determination to continue to endeavour to boost the quality of education.

“In this matter, the outcomes of pupils should be viewed holistically and comprehensively in terms of academic, personality, co-curriculum and sports,” he said at a YBR programme in Kota Belud today.

Salleh, who is also Usukan State Assemblyman, said the government always stressed on the importance of education and had implemented numerous incentives to ensure the people had access to it. 

“In the past, parents were charged mandatory fees, but now these fees are abolished.

“In addition, textbook loans were provided depending on parental income levels. Now it is given to all students,” he said.

Salleh also said the government provided RM100 1Malaysia Special Early School Aid which benefited 3.2 million pupils.

He added Malaysia’s education expenditure was double other Asean countries, and the government spent an average of RM8,900 per student a year.

“This shows Barisan Nasional stresses on education, despite the negative views of certain parties who always criticise the government’s effort to help the people,” he said.

He said the facilities were provided by the government due to political stability.

In today’s programme, 250 pupils in the Kota Belud parliamentary constituency received RM100 and school bags from YBR. – Bernama, March 3, 2018.