KUALA LUMPUR - The start of the school year often sparks excitement among parents, particularly those sending children to school for the first time. Items such as new bags, shoes, stationery, and trending water bottles may seem essential.
However, this enthusiasm can lead to overspending, even though children primarily need basic, comfortable and suitable supplies.
Dr Anuar Ahmad, a lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said parents do not need to overspend on school supplies or purchase expensive branded items, as this can encourage wastefulness and may have psychological effects on children.
"Mature parents provide their children with comfortable items for learning, playing, and other activities. Children go to school to learn, not to show off. Simplicity and comfort are more important than brand names or cost,” he told Bernama today.
He added that rising school preparation costs can burden families, particularly those with several school-going children, making prudent spending essential.
"The uniform for a single child can cost between RM100 and RM200. This excludes books, stationery, school bags, and transport. For families with three or four children, these expenses occur simultaneously and are strongly felt,” he said.
Dr Anuar said the government’s Back-to-School Assistance (Bantuan Awal Persekolahan, BAP) plays an important role in easing families’ financial burden, though it does not fully resolve the issue.
"At the very least, this aid helps alleviate the (financial) strain. For example, if one child receives RM150, a family with four children could receive around RM600. This is significant support for families in need,” he said.
The BAP 2026 payment of RM150 will be disbursed as a one-off payment to more than 5.2 million schoolchildren, including Form Six students, starting Jan 11, to help offset school supply costs.
Dr Anuar also suggested that future aid should be more targeted, particularly for low-income families and students with special needs or health concerns.
Mohd Syafiq Ilham, 39, a father of three, said he uses a phased, needs-based approach when buying school supplies to avoid waste.
"I prefer to purchase only the essentials and make use of online platforms, especially during promotions. This approach not only saves costs but also reduces transport expenses,” he said.
He expressed gratitude for the BAP contribution, which will help ease his financial burden in providing for his children’s school needs.
Syafiq also welcomed the government’s proposal to standardise school uniforms by 2027, which is expected to reduce long-term expenses for parents.
"When there are too many uniform types, such as for prefects or library duty, parents end up spending more. Standardising school uniforms is a positive step and should be supported,” he said.
While the excitement of the first day of school is natural, parents should distinguish between needs and wants to avoid unnecessary spending that could burden the family. - BERNAMA