While the government is trying to distribute the one-off schooling assistance of RM100 to all primary and secondary students before school closes for the year, parents who miss out on the payment can claim it later, director-general of education Abd Ghafar Mahmud said today.

 

“We are focusing on making the payment this week to enable parents to use the money to buy schooling paraphernalia. However, if they cannot go to the schools now, they can claim the money later,” he told reporters after the 1Malaysia national-level special education co-curricular excellence awards presentation in Putrajaya.

Abd Ghafar dismissed an allegation that the money would be returned to the government if it is not claimed this week.

He said parents who do not want the aid should inform the respective schools.

In his speech at the event, Abd Ghafar advised principals and headmasters not to segregate students with special needs from normal students, saying interaction among the students would instill awareness and responsibility in the normal students towards the other students.

Segregating the students with special needs will only foil the ministry’s efforts to implement inclusive education in tandem with the National Education Policy, he said.

He also said that the students with special needs should be given the maximum opportunity to participate in co-curricular activities.

Seventy-two students with special needs from all over the country received the awards under 24 categories.

The outstanding students were Muhammad Saifuddin Ishak of Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar, Johor and Siti Noor Radiah Ismail of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Gemereh, Segamat, Johor.

- Bernama

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