KAJANG: Parents must be consulted on how schools run their student graduation ceremonies, says Fadhlina Sidek, following concerns raised on social media.
The Education Minister said discussions and consultations with the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) at the respective schools, as well as with parents, should form the basis for graduation ceremonies.
“These consultations are crucial, and if there are any objections, they should be addressed,” she told reporters after the Chinese New Year celebration and mock cheque presentation ceremony for the one-off Bantuan Awal Persekolahan cash aid at SMJK(C) Yu Hua yesterday.
She was commenting on recent concerns raised by a parent on social media, questioning the lavish graduation ceremonies being held by some schools.
The parent, actress Adrea Abdullah, said these ceremonies, hosted at five-star hotels, required each student and parent to pay RM200 and RM150, respectively, for attendance.
She said this financial requirement would pose an unreasonable burden on parents, adding that some families might not be able to afford it.
Some parents, she added, were under pressure after being notified via WhatsApp about the unpaid fees.
Festive mood: Fadhlina (pink and blue) together staff members and students wishing everyone a Gong Xi Fa Cai at SMJK(C) Yu Hua in Kajang. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
In her response, Fadhlina urged schools to practise moderation in arranging such ceremonies, adding that the ministry advocated for simplicity and encouraged lively, meaningful and memorable ceremonies to be prioritised.
During the ceremony, she handed over a RM127.3mil cheque to the Selangor Education Department to be distributed to 10 district education offices, benefiting 933 schools and 848,744 students across the state.
In her speech, she said the one-off BAP cash aid reflected the government’s commitment to ensuring students’ welfare, easing parental burdens, and facilitating preparations for the coming school term.
She urged schools not to deduct any portion of the BAP cash assistance, adding that they must distribute this directly to eligible students as intended.
The one-off BAP cash aid of RM150 will be disbursed through schools and either distributed to students in cash or credit into their respective accounts.
Malaysian students from households with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below are eligible for the BAP.
