KOTA KINABALU: Sekolah Kebangsaan Kebagu’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is hoping that all school-going children will be included in the improvised Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) that begins today.
Its chairman Marzuki Utuhman said the school welcomed the programme while parents were thankful that their children would be fed in the morning during school days.
“Initially we were told that all pupils of SK Kebagu will get free breakfast. However, on Friday night, we were informed that only RMT recipients are eligible for the programme.
“We are hoping that the programme can be extended to all children as they come to school very early in the morning,” he said, adding that 99 per cent of parents are either working as fishermen or construction workers.
Sabah Education Department director Dr Mistirine Radin said the department received the last-minute notice on Friday night.
“SK Kebagu is one of the 13 schools in the state included in this programme, but not all pupils will get (it).
“Only those with RM1,180 income per month are eligible for it,” she said while monitoring the situation at SK Kebagu here.
As for the implementation today, Mistirine said there were still room for improvement. One of them was providing space for the children to have their meal.
For SK Kebagu, 415 out of 644 children from two schooling sessions are entitled to have free food during breakfast and lunch.
On a separate issue, Mistirine said 12 influenza cases were reported at eight primary schools in the state.
“(Influenza A) in Sabah is still under control, all of the pupils have received treatment at hospitals,” she added.
Meanwhile in KUCHING, SARAWAK, 10 schools have been selected for the first phase of the programme set to benefit 2,704 primary school children.
State Education Department director Dr Azhar Ahmad said the schools involved were selected based on the number of registered B40 families.
“This is to ensure that students, especially from low income families, have adequate amounts of nutrients which can help them to pay better attention in class,” he said after launching the programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tambirat here.
Other schools chosen for the programme included SK Penghulu Imban in Dalat, SK Long Lapok (Baram), SK Spoah (Betong) dan SK Tuanku Bagus (Sebuyau), SK Koran (Serian), SK Abang Haji Matahir (Sarikei), SK Kampung Seberang, SK Abang Leman (Kabong), Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Chung Hua Sungai Moyan.