Zamri (third right) hands over a mock cheque to Saidal, witnessed by Dr Annuar (fourth left) and (from left) Kassim, Salemah and others.
SIBU: Parents are advised to save for the education of their offspring, preferably as early as right from birth.
Assistant Minister for Science Research and Biotechnology Dr Annuar Rapaee, who gave this advice, noted that education is becoming more expensive.
“I prefer parents to start saving early, even as soon as after the birth of their child by allocating a certain amount (each month). They will need this money to further their studies at tertiary level later on.
“To me, saving for education is very important and that is why we need to save from young,” he said.
Dr Annuar, who is Nangka assemblyman, was speaking to reporters after officiating at the BSN School Carnival 2016 at SK Agama here yesterday.
The carnival was jointly organised by SK Agama’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) with the objective of getting pupils to adopt the saving habit.
SK Agama was among four schools in the state selected by BSN to organise the carnival, the cost of which was borne by BSN. The other three schools were SK St Anne, Sarikei; SK Green Road, Kuching and SJK Chung Hua, Mile 7, Matang, Kuching.
Dr Annuar said while in Nangka that they had funds available for constituents whose children were furthering their studies – the sum a one-off assistance.
This again, he added, spoke volume on the importance of parents saving for future needs.
The BSN school carnival was a step in the right direction to get pupils and parents to save for their future needs.
He said parents having insurance schemes with education plans can withdraw a certain amount for educational needs upon the child reaching 18 years old.
“If you have RM20,000 when your child is going for further studies, this is good enough unless you want to send overseas,” he said.
In his opening remarks, headmaster Ustaz Saidal Mat said the key objectives were to get pupils into the habit of saving, and to build rapport among the school, PTA, government agencies and corporate bodies.
Saidal said the carnival was held to promote SK Agama as one of the cluster schools here, and raise funds for the school PTA.
Various activities were held in conjunction with the event such as telematch, futsal competition, colouring contest and lucky draw.
BSN donated RM10,000 which was handed over at the event by its director of business in Sarawak, Zamri Ngah.
Out of that amount, RM5,000 went to cash prizes for competitions to unearth talents, while the balance of RM5,000 was for the school carnival.
Among those present were Sibu deputy district education officer Salemah Chali and chairman Kassim Mantali.