Isu Harga Persekolahan Kanak-Kanak

ISU HARGA PERSEKOLAHAN KANAK KANAK

Oleh Halik Zaman

Barisan Nasional semasa kempen Pilihan Raya Umum Mac 2008 telah menjanjikan kepada pengundi diseluruh Malaysia bahawa Kerajaan Barisan Nasional akan memberi bantuan kepada anak anak sekolah untuk mendapatkan uniforms percuma, kasut percuma dan lain lain keperluan percuma.

Tinjauan sebuah akhbar terkemuka di Sabah, Daily Express: Survey on the first day of school Monday found parents forced to spend at least RM300 minimum on various necessities per child on average, while there were others who spent between RM650 and RM1,000 per child in the belief that their children deserved the best. For instance, spent some RM500 to prepare two of his children for school this year. Three pairs of uniforms and a pair of shoes for each child cost more than RM300. "There was also RM80 per child for the school books. It was a package where you pay RM80 and your child gets all the books, including exercise books, workbooks and writing utensils.

Another parent feeling likewise was Arymoone Mustaffa who sent her grandson to SRK St Agnes. She spent about RM400 on uniforms, shoes, socks, school bag, exercise books, writing utensils among others. "I bought extra for my grandson. Instead of only two sets of uniform, I bought a few more," she said. She said the amount was quite high but still affordable and sympathised with poorer families who may have several school-going children. "For poor families earning less than RM1,000 a month and with many children, it would surely be a huge burden," said Arymoone.

Housewife Karimah Ahmad, 34, allocated over RM1,000 for her two children entering kindergarten and primary school, respectively, for the first time. "For my five-year-old entering Stella Maris kindergarten in Tanjung Aru, my husband and I spent about RM700 with RM600 going towards the kindergarten fees, uniform and some books, while the remainder on bag, two pairs of shoes and stationery. "of this, we spent RM170 just for his school bag and for the rest including school fees about RM150," she said.

Bayangkan berapa mesti dibayar untuk keperluan persekolahan kanak kanak mereka oleh ibubapa yang menjadi pengundi Barisan Nasional di Kuala Trengganu? Tidak kah ibubapa ambil kira janji Barisan Nasional sebelum PRU Mac 2008? Selepas PRU BN mendapat simple majoriti maka janji pun terus dilupakan. Bukan semua pengundi Kuala Trengganu mampu, hari ini pengundi Kuala Trengganu dapat memahami thema pilihanra raya kecil BN iaitu "Mesra Rakyat".

Mesra kah rakyat Kuala Trengganu membayar beratus ringgit untuk persekolahan anak anak mereka? Pengundi Kuala Trengganu masih ingat kah pada 5-1-09 yang baru lalu, berapa wang yang anda belanjakan untuk persekolahan anak anak kamu? Gunakan undi anda di Kuala Trengganu untuk merubah keadaan rakyat yang terdesak oleh kesempitan dari tekanan Kerajaan BN.

HZ