Schools that need financial aid in 2016 from the federal government must submit their application forms by end January, said Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon.

Chong said all schools must prepare their application forms and submit them to the State Education Department to be evaluated and processed.

"I want to remind the schools that they must submit the forms for 2016 in January so that the process of allocation can be done in March," he told reporters after a ceremony to present special allocation packages to government-aided schools 2014/2015 here Wednesday.

He added that schools which have been given allocations must prepare a report to the Education Department on how the allocations were used, either to maintain or replace school equipment.

He said the reports would be submitted to the Finance Ministry for auditing purposes and also for the schools to obtain future allocations.