BAP 2026: Small Aid, Big Impact

Just  RM150. An amount that may seem modest against today’s rising cost of living, yet for Hafizah Alli, who lives far away at the foothills of Mount Santubong, Sarawak, the Early Schooling Assistance (Bantuan Awal Persekolahan – BAP) feels like a lifeline — small in size, but deeply meaningful.

A mother of three children, all still in school, Hafizah is often overcome with worry whenever a new school term begins. And it is easy to understand why: with her growing children, she needs to replace school uniforms that no longer fit.

On top of that, a list of fees to be paid further tightens the family’s finances, especially as her husband works only as an administrative assistant at a government department — earning just enough to get by — while she is a full-time homemaker.

“When the school season begins, we really have to think carefully about many things. Not just books or uniforms, but fees, food, and other needs too. With assistance like this, we feel truly grateful — not because the amount is big, but because it helps lighten the burden,” she shared when contacted by Bernama recently.

VALUE OF RM150

This year, the MADANI government has allocated RM800 million for BAP, benefitting 5.2 million school students, from Year One to Form Six. The RM150 per student assistance has been distributed directly through school teachers beginning Jan 11, aimed at ensuring students’ educational needs are met.

Elaborating further, Hafizah, 39, said that with school supplies becoming more expensive, she and her husband carefully plan how to use the BAP so that every ringgit spent delivers maximum value.

Early financial assistance such as BAP is an important support for parents in ensuring that children can start school sessions more regularly.

“Here, school trousers used to cost about RM40 per pair (depending on size), but now they’re nearly RM50. So we really have to buy according to what’s necessary.

“But we’ve trained our children, especially the youngest, Nur Ayesha Armani, who is only 10. We tell her — if the school bag is still in good condition, we postpone buying a new one. For uniforms, we buy one essential set first. If there’s extra money, only then do we buy a second set,” she added.

To stretch the assistance further, Hafizah chooses to travel to Kuching, about 45 minutes from her home, to purchase school necessities for her children.

“There are grocery shops here, but if we go to the city, we can buy a complete set of school supplies all at once, and it’s actually cheaper. Luckily my husband works in Kuching, so he knows the place well and which shops sell at prices we can afford,” she said, adding that the full RM150 assistance is used entirely for her children’s schooling needs.

BAP does not only provide relief for parents in rural areas. Many urban families also feel the strain each time a new school session begins, including Siti Wardah, a public sector employee.

“I live in Kuala Lumpur and have four children — two in primary school and two in secondary school. When school season comes, it’s really stressful,” she shared, adding that BAP helps ease the load, especially for the purchase of books, equipment and basic clothing.

While grateful for the initiative, some parents interviewed by Bernama expressed hope that the assistance could be distributed earlier.

“Right now, BAP is given when school is about to reopen, so parents have to spend out of their own pockets first. It’s not that we’re ungrateful, but we would be even more thankful if the BAP could be given earlier,” they said.

A SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INSTRUMENT

Whether in rural or urban areas, BAP clearly provides meaningful support to parents, especially those with several school-going children — regardless of whether they come from the M40 or B40 groups.

Commenting on the assistance, social expert Prof Dr Mohamad Fazli Sabri said financial aid is not merely about money, but also about the social impact it creates.

Prof Dr Mohamad Fazli Sabri.

“The amount may seem small to some, but the social impact is significant. Assistance like this can prevent parents from falling into debt or being deceived by scams promising quick income.

“BAP helps everyone, regardless of group, because students’ needs today are increasing,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in an interview with Bernama.

More importantly, he said, parents need to spend wisely and avoid being swept up by popular trends.

“In short, there’s no need for expensive items — as long as they serve their purpose — because this money (BAP) is meant for the development of human capital,” he added.

At the same time, Mohamad Fazli highlighted another positive effect stemming from the distribution of BAP through schools.

“To receive the BAP, parents need to go to their child’s school. Some parents are rarely involved in school activities, so indirectly BAP creates interaction between the school and parents,” he explained, also suggesting that schools monitor the usage of BAP to prevent misuse.

“Maybe it can be recorded what the BAP is spent on,” he added.

AN ECONOMIC BOOST AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Senior lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Muamalat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Dr Muhammad Iqmal Hisham Kamaruddin, sees BAP not just as support for parents, but also as a small-scale economic stimulus — as about 80 per cent of the RM150 is typically spent on school needs, including bags, stationery and books.

“At the beginning of every year, parents rush to buy their children’s basic school necessities. Based on research, almost the entire amount is used for that purpose, so directly it eases the household burden and allows families to focus on other spending,” he explained.

Dr Muhammad Iqmal Hisham Kamaruddin.

To measure BAP’s effectiveness, the economist suggested tracking early-year domestic spending indicators. According to him, spending usually increases during this period — much like during festive seasons.

From a macroeconomic perspective, he said the RM800 million allocation would directly impact the domestic economy.

This approach, he explained, injects cash flow into sectors such as clothing, books, printing and retail outlets, while also triggering a ripple effect as people go out to shop — stimulating local spending cycles.

“From a broader perspective, this spending cycle benefits many entrepreneurs and businesses in both urban and rural areas,” he added.

While it may be smaller in scale compared with other government economic stimulus measures, such cash injections are still capable of mobilising the local economy and, indirectly, help build the human capital of the future, he added.

Supporting the view, President of the Malay Hawkers and Small Traders Association of the Federal Territory (PPPKMWP) Datuk Mohamad Abdullah said the spending generated through BAP has contributed to greater vibrancy in the local economic cycle.

“We can see that BAP is being spent at local shops and stalls, most of which rely on daily income,” he said.

CONTINUING TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT

Commenting on the assistance amount, Muhammad Iqmal Hisham said that from a broader economic standpoint, RM150 per student may not be sufficient, given the rising cost of schooling necessities in recent years.

“The value may not cover the full cost, but it still reduces the burden on parents and remains relevant amid today’s cost of living,” he said, adding that BAP serves as a short-term “investment” to help children begin the school year more comfortably.

Consumer finance experts emphasise that this BAP assistance can also prevent parents from going into debt through get-rich-quick schemes.

Noting that BAP also carries an implicit message, he said ensuring children are able to learn well in school requires not only financial support, but also social motivation.

“Through assistance like this, children can be trained to appreciate resources, build financial discipline, and eventually become a future generation that is educated, independent, and able to contribute to society.

“Financial aid, though it may appear small in nominal terms, can still have a big impact on families and communities. It not only eases today’s burden but also builds the foundation for children’s future,” he added.