When free is not so free actually. Abolishment of school fees will cost RM30 million as mentioned here.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said today that he was proud to mention that education in Malaysia is free when he spoke at Unesco's 34th general conference in Paris recently.
He said the people should regard the free education as the government's recognition of them and as such, should not deny their children education.
"At least be proud and convinced that the educational opportunity for our children is free," he told reporters at Parliament's lobby after winding-up debate for his ministry in Dewan Rakyat. – from Bernama
The schools students are grouped into A,B,C categories based on parent's income status. Thus the amount for MSSM, Insurance, and other facilities (computer labs, library, wakaf, cleanliness, etc.) will be based on the groups. A HM, a teacher, and a administrative staff I talked to have verified this.
So, to clarify, school fees and exam fees (UPSR, PMR, SPM, STPM) have been abolished, but all other fees will remain. That's a new definition of free schooling.
Guidelines on school charges
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Education Ministry has issued guidelines pertaining to the maximum amount in additional payments that schools can impose on students following the abolition of school fees from next year.
Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the guidelines were only a reference and the amount was still at the discretion of the schools and the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs).
"The ministry has asked for the additional payments be set through discussions between the schools and the PTAs. We give guidelines on the ceiling level.
"For example, RM2 for the Malaysian Schools Sports Council and RM1.50 for personal insurance. If a parent's income is quite low, they (the school and PTA) can lower the amount and give exemptions to those who cannot afford it, including the poor and single mothers," he told reporters after opening the state education exposition at the Terengganu Trade Centre here.
According to the guidelines, additional payments are introduced for management purposes and each item proposed by the school must be approved the State Education Department, which will monitor all the payments.
The additional payments have been categorised into three packages.
Schools in Package A are those in the "high socio-economy" group where the majority of parents comprise big business people or civil servants in the professional group. Primary schools under Package A can impose additional charges up to RM38.50 and secondary schools RM55.50.
Schools in Package B, for the "medium socio-economy" group, can charge a maximum of RM30.50 for primary schools and RM44.50 for secondary schools.
The ceiling in Package C, schools in the "low socio-economy" group, is RM23.50 for primary schools and RM33.50 for secondary schools. – Bernama