No RM100 for fifth formers

They will get the one-off payment only when they move on to Form Six.

PETALING JAYA: Students currently in Form Five will get their RM100 one-off government aid only if they continue to Form Six, Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong said today.

He said the aid was for next year’s school session, although the government had started disbursing the money, except to those now studying in Form Five and Form Upper Six.

Wee gave the explanation in response to a parent’s complaint, made through FMT, that his daughter in Form Five had not received the money while other children in her school were receiving theirs.

The parent said the school told his daughter current fifth formers were not eligible.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced the one-off payment when he tabled Budget 2012 last month.

On Monday, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin instructed schools to give the aid directly to students without any deductions. This was in response to suggestions that arrears in school fees be deducted from the entitlement.

Yesterday, Deputy Education Minister Puad Zarkashi announced that students in private schools were also eligible for the aid.