KUALA LUMPUR, February 24 – The presentation of Budget 2023 outlines among the main focuses for the Ministry of Education (KPM) is to improve the national education standard and preserve the welfare of teachers and students. The Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek, said to realize that goal, her side received the highest allocation of RM55.2 billion compared to RM52.6 billion in the previous year. Thus, he said, several essences were outlined in the budget this time to realize the objectives as desired.
“Firstly, an allocation of RM2.3 billion to build the best infrastructure and learning facilities, including RM920 million to upgrade buildings and infrastructure in 380 poor schools across the country, especially in Sabah and Sarawak through a special procurement method in line with the Ministry of Education’s sixth core. Allocation of RM900 million for works to maintain the facilities of all types of schools including national schools, Chinese National Type Schools (SJKC) and Tamil SJK (SJKT).
“Build seven new schools at a cost of RM560 million (SK Paya Dusun, Terengganu; SMK Denai Alam, Selangor; SMK Nabalu, Sabah and SMK Dudong, Sarawak),” he said at a press conference after the presentation of Budget 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat today. Commenting on the efforts that will be made to improve the school’s standard, Fadhlina said that among other things, equipping schools with students with special needs with disabled-friendly facilities (OKU).
For children who are still dropping out of learning, he said they will also be helped with an allocation of RM15 million to support the efforts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to hold remedial classes for that group. He added that the preparation of traditional food was also emphasized this time when the allocation was increased from RM625 million to RM777 million in this year’s budget. He explained that the program is under the Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) which will benefit 700,000 students.
“In addition, the RM108 million KPM Preschool Food Program which benefits more than 240,000 KPM preschool students. It includes monitoring of food providers to ensure that the food provided is of good quality and nutritious,” he said. In an effort to improve digital education capabilities in schools, Fadhlina said the government will also supply schools and educational institutions under the Ministry of Education with 50,000 laptops in line with the ministry’s seventh thrust.
