Buying school uniforms can be one of the biggest back-to-school expenses, especially for families with more than one child. A new initiative under the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) aims to help families save on school uniforms while creating paid work for women who have completed its sewing programme. 

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the NADI School Uniform initiative grew out of the NADI Mahir Jahit programme, which teaches sewing skills to participants including housewives and single mothers. Graduates are then given the opportunity to produce school uniforms that are sold to the community at lower prices.

From Sewing Lessons To Paid Work

More than 2,000 people have joined the NADI Mahir Jahit programme, which is now entering its fourth intake.

Fadhlina said the initiative gives graduates a way to earn an income while helping other families save on school uniforms. She added that the programme is designed to turn newly acquired skills into a sustainable source of income.

Helping Families Manage School Expenses

Families who cannot afford to pay for uniforms upfront can also opt for an interest-free instalment plan. Fadhlina said it is not a loan or a “Buy Now, Pay Later” scheme, but a way to help parents spread out the cost of buying school uniforms, especially for households with several school-going children.

The initiative comes as many families continue to juggle the cost of preparing for a new school year. Besides uniforms, parents also need to budget for shoes, school bags, stationery and other essentials, which can quickly add up. Even families on a tight budget may still need to set aside around RM280 for basic back-to-school expenses before the new term begins. 

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Christina Chandra

Christina writes about personal finance with an eye for making the complicated feel straightforward. She is drawn to the everyday money decisions people face and genuinely enjoys finding the clearest way to explain them. Between articles, she is probably napping, on a hiking trail, or terrorising her sister’s cats.

About THE AUTHOR

Christina Chandra

Christina Chandra

Christina writes about personal finance with an eye for making the complicated feel straightforward. She is drawn to the everyday money decisions people face and genuinely enjoys finding the clearest way to explain them. Between articles, she is probably napping, on a hiking trail, or terrorising her sister's cats.

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