THE Ministry of Education has said it will improve the payment process for the Bantuan Awal Persekolahan programme, including crediting it directly into the student or parent’s bank account to ensure speedy payment and safety.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said she had taken note of all suggestions about the payment process for the early schooling aid programme, but said there was a standard operating procedure (SOP) to adhere.

“For now, we will keep the existing method, but we will improve it from time to time,” she said in Nibong Tibal, last night, in response to questions on former education minister Radzi Jidin’s proposal for payments to be credited directly into the student’s bank account.

Fadhlina said that at the moment, the ministry would continue with face-to-face cash handouts, taking into account that there are parents without bank accounts.

The issue arose following an incident where a school headmaster lost RM109,000 in school aid, when it was stolen from his car on Monday.

He had withdrawn the cash, put it in a bag on the front passenger seat of his car while he went to a nearby shop to buy a drink in Semenyih.

When he returned, one of the windows was smashed and the money gone. – Bernama, January 18, 2023.