KUALA LUMPUR: The nearly RM69 billion allocation received by the Education Ministry under the 2027 Budget aims to strengthen national education quality by upgrading school infrastructure and enhancing student and teacher welfare.
The allocation includes RM2 billion to repair and maintain all types of schools and nearly RM1.3 billion to upgrade 682 dilapidated schools, which is expected to bridge the educational facility gap, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Department of Social Sciences, Centre for General Studies and Co-Curricular senior lecturer Dr Nazreena Mohammed Yasin said the funding would help ensure students enjoy a safe and conducive learning environment regardless of location.
"We need to understand that the education gap is not just about differences in academic achievement, but also the opportunity to learn in a safe, comfortable environment equipped with suitable facilities.
"For instance, schools facing issues with buildings, water, electricity or internet access encounter different challenges compared to those with better facilities. Therefore, this allocation has the potential to narrow that gap," she told Bernama.
Commenting on the government's move to expand the deployment of teacher assistants to 200 high-density primary schools, she said it was a step in the right direction as teachers can focus their time and energy on educating, lesson planning, guiding pupils and assessing learning progress.
Nazreena also emphasised the importance of strengthening teaching and learning quality, including critical thinking and digital skills, to ensure the increased education budget yields comprehensive benefits for students.
Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Faculty of Educational Studies dean Assoc Prof Dr Wan Marzuki Wan Jaafar said the budget increase from RM66.2 billion this year to RM69 billion next year represents a vital investment in human capital development and the nation's future.
"The next step is ensuring that every allocation is efficiently translated into tangible outcomes, particularly regarding school conditions, student wellbeing, teacher support and access to quality education," he said.
When tabling the 2027 Budget themed "Reaching for the Skies, While Anchored on Our Values" last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the allocation for school repairs and maintenance had doubled from RM1 billion to RM2 billion under Budget 2027.
The Finance Minister said allocations for National Schools (SK) rose to RM900 million, National-Type Chinese Schools (SJKC) to RM100 million and National-Type Tamil Schools (SJKT) to RM50 million, while the hiring of teacher assistants will be expanded to 200 high-density primary schools in phases following effectiveness evaluations.
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