SHAH ALAM, 24 FEB: Many parents are hoping that the State Government will reconsider the salary level set to receive the Selangor Kindergarten Assistance Scheme (Tunas) can be increased from RM1,500 per month.
This is because the scheme is becoming increasingly popular with an increase in applications since it was launched in July last year. However, many applicants did were not approved because they had a household income exceeding RM1,500 per month.
According to a teacher from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) Kindergarten in Kampung Nakhoda, Gombak, many parents in the kindergarten have asked for the RM1,500 per month terms to be reconsidered.
“Many parents have said that they applied however did not receive (assistance) and our school is located on the outskirts of the city,” said the teacher Rosmah Hussin, 40.
Perhaps there should be a flexibility for those living in areas such as this, seeing that the cost of living is already high,” she said when met.
She was met after winning the Tunas Kindergarten Educator Award in conjunction with the 2013 Selangor Kindergarten Day at Melawati Stadium in Shah Alam today.
The Tunas scheme under the Localising the Selangor Economy (MES – Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor) is an assistance of RM50 per month for kindergarten fees for children from families with household incomes below RM1,500 per month.
For those who were eligible and have already admitted their children in a kindergarten, the assistance is paid directly to the kindergarten.
A teacher from the Meru Al-Islam Religious Primary School (SRA), Haslin Taslim, 43, said that the scheme sets parents at ease and has helped a lot of children from low-income families in the area.
“Not everyone can afford to send their children to nursery schools because many come from struggling families.
“But Alhamdulillah, 24 children at my school received the Tunas assistance and this year, a lot more have applied to receive the assistance,” she said when met.
For Ahmad Azhar Abdullah, 45, a father, there are still many from low-income families who do not know much about policies implemented by the State Government.
“I have seen that a lot of programmes organised by the State Government are very beneficial.
“But in my opinion, there still is not much publicity for many to come forward to join (the programmes),” said the father who has a child in the Pasti Al-Hidayah preschool in Sabak Bernam.
Also present to enliven the event was the Education, Higher Education and Human Capital Development Exco, Dr Halimah Ali accompanied by the Chief Minister’s wife, Puan Sri Salbiah Tunut.
In her speech, Dr Halimah stated that the State Government has allocated RM 3 million under the 2013 budget and targets for 5,000 to receive Tunas assistance this year.
“Our target is 5,000 recipients and the participation of 500 kindergartens to be registered under this scheme.”