PTPTN Launches BMS 2025 To Promote Education Savings

SHAH ALAM, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has continued to strengthen its role as an education savings institution through the launch of the National Education Savings Month (BMS) 2025, which began yesterday and runs until Nov 2.

Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) secretary-general Datuk Dr Anesee Ibrahim said the annual programme, now in its eighth edition since it was introduced in 2018, featured a variety of engaging activities.

With the theme of ‘Adventures’ and maintaining the tagline 'Jom Jadi Superhero Anak Anda', Anesee said BMS 2025 emphasised the importance of parents becoming superheroes to their children by planning their education finances early.

“BMS 2025 is a savings empowerment initiative pioneered by PTPTN aimed at ensuring every parent becomes a superhero to their children by having financial planning for higher education, thus reducing society’s dependence on loans.

“Saving for higher education is a long-term investment that is crucial in building children’s future, especially in facing the rising cost of education. Saving early is a wise and responsible preparation,” he said in his speech at the launch of BMS 2025 here today.

Meanwhile, Anesee said as of Aug 31, deposits from Simpan SSPN savings products stood at RM22.31 billion involving 7.09 million accounts.

He said this performance proved that Simpan SSPN continued to excel as the best savings product and that depositor support remained strong.

Anesee said for BMS 2025, PTPTN targeted RM220 million in Simpan SSPN deposit receipts.

He said Simpan SSPN offered various benefits, including income tax relief of up to RM8,000 a year, takaful protection, a Matching Grant of up to RM10,000 free for each eligible family, competitive dividend rates, syariah compliance and government-guaranteed savings.

Earlier, the launch of BMS 2025 was enlivened with a variety of activities, including colouring contests, Action Song, the PTPTN Esports Challenge and the Baby Merangkak Race.

Also held was the presentation of certificates of appreciation to 16 strategic partners and prizes to the winners of the National-level Action Song Competition, which was won by  SJKC Sin Hwa from Bukit Pasir, Batu Pahat, Johor.

The competition, involving schools registered under the Education Savings Club module, saw the participation of 11 schools, before five were selected to compete in today’s final round.

Meanwhile, SJKC Sin Hwa English Language Panel teacher Tay Sock Kar said the victory was the result of more than two months of intensive training after competing at the state level, adding that producing a performance concept in line with the organiser’s theme was the biggest challenge.

She said the competition not only showcased pupils’ talents but, more importantly, raised awareness among them and their parents on the importance of saving from an early age.

Through the training, she said pupils learnt the importance of financial management, budgeting and cultivating good saving habits.

“At the state level, the theme was The Heritage, while at the national level it changed to The Savings Adventure, so we had to think of a new concept.

“In the end, we developed a storyline suitable for presentation, and we are delighted our efforts paid off after being selected as the champion,” she said.

As champions, SJKC Sin Hwa took home Simpan SSPN Prime worth RM3,750.

-- BERNAMA