Maran Perianen
Form Six students will receive a Form Six allowance of RM2,500 from the first semester of 2027. Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek confirmed the timing on 25 October.
The aid matches the allowance that matriculation students already receive. It is expected to benefit 90,000 Form Six students nationwide. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim first announced it when tabling Budget 2027 on 9 October.
Parents and students now want to know when the money arrives. The ministry has given a broad timeline, but several details are still unannounced.
How much For Six students get and when
The allowance is RM2,500 in living costs for each eligible Form Six student. Budget 2027 coverage described it as a cost-of-living allowance. The government has set it at the same rate as matriculation students.
Students will not receive the full sum at once. The money will be paid in stages across the three semesters of study. Fadhlina said about RM800 is set aside for each semester.
Those per-semester figures are approximate. Three payments of RM800 come to about RM2,400, slightly below the headline RM2,500. Students should wait for the ministry’s final breakdown before planning around exact amounts.
Payment begins in the first semester of 2027. Fadhlina said the ministry will first complete registration for all Form Six students. “Once the registration process for all Form Six students is completed, we will disburse the assistance in their first semester,” she told reporters.
Who benefits and why it was introduced
About 90,000 Form Six students stand to benefit nationwide. Reports so far set no criteria beyond being a Form Six student. The ministry has not published any income test.
Fadhlina said the allowance shows the government’s commitment to Form Six students. She also linked it to improving the quality of STPM. That ties the aid to results, not only to cost of living.
The proposal did not start in Parliament. It was one of 12 resolutions raised at the MADANI Pre-University Congress in Klang, Selangor, last August. Budget 2027 then turned the request into policy.
Fadhlina spoke after officiating at the “Jelajah Negaraku: Aku Kasih Malaysia” programme in Nibong Tebal, Penang. She is the Member of Parliament for Nibong Tebal. The programme is organised by the Prime Minister’s Department.
Several points remain open. The ministry has not said whether students must apply or will receive the money automatically. It has not stated the total allocation or the exact amount per instalment.
Families should watch for announcements from the Education Ministry and their schools. Separately, Budget 2027 raises the early schooling aid from RM150 to RM200 per pupil, with RM1 billion set aside for 5.3 million pupils
C. Khor
Navin Kumar Perianen
Amirull Salihing
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