By Zaki Salleh
Photo MB Saarani
IPOH: The beginning of the new year brought smiles to 18 mothers at the Maternity Ward of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun as they received vouchers from the Perak Child Education Savings Fund (TASPEN).
Each received RM200 in celebration of their newborns in 2024.
These vouchers are in the form of educational savings to be registered into the National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) Prime account.
It was even more heartwarming as the vouchers were presented by the Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
He also handed over baby essential hampers to those mothers.
TASPEN is part of the Teacher Saarani Tuition Programme initiative created to encourage educational savings for children born in the state of Perak.
According to Saarani, since 2010, a total of 32,351 newborns have benefited, involving an overall expenditure of RM6.47 million.
He said that the Perak Foundation and the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) are bodies entrusted to manage this fund.
“We sincerely hope that the initial savings of RM200 given will continue to be added by the recipient parents until the children reach the age of 18 for their future benefits.
“The Perak Foundation will continue to promote TASPEN and plans to organize educational savings awareness programmes from time to time.
“This will involve several other district hospitals in the future in collaboration with the State Health Department,” he said.
