KUALA LUMPUR: Form six students should receive a monthly allowance of at least RM250 to promote higher entry to the stream and ease the financial burden, especially for those in the B40 and M40 income groups.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Centre of Education and Diversity senior lecturer Dr Anuar Ahmad said the amount is appropriate for those intending to pursue higher studies.
He said the students may need money for expenses, including transportation and other necessities.
He said a monthly allowance of RM250 is a fair amount to support our children and will create more opportunities for them to pursue their education, and allowances for pre-university students had been a practice since before, as seen in matriculation and other similar programmes.
Anuar said this is one of the strategies to boost enrolment in government-run programmes before students transition to university.
"The allowance not only increases participation in these programs but also helps ease the financial burden on lower-income families, as this stage involves significant costs," he said.
"The allowance should align with the study programmes and take into account various costs like food, transportation, and other expenses," he said.
would be included in the 2025 Budget, set to be tabled in Parliament this October.
"The Education Ministry (MoE) consistently advocates for the welfare of Form Six students to ensure they receive the education they deserve.
"We will include the allocation in the Budget 2025 and continue advocating for all children, regardless of approval, while also exploring other initiatives including expanding the federal scholarship," said Fadhlina.