Pakar gesa tumpuan pada pengajaran, pembelajaran dalam peruntukan KPM RM69 bilion

The 2027 budget has doubled the allocation for school maintenance and renovation to RM2 billion, while nearly RM1.3 billion is earmarked to upgrade 682 weak schools, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. While the Pakar commends the RM2 billion allocation for school renovation and establishment in the 2027 budget, they urge the Ministry of Education (KPM) to direct a significant portion of the RM69 billion budget towards strengthening teaching and learning.

PAGE (Parent Action Group for Education) chairperson, Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, highlights the double increase in school maintenance funding compared to the previous year but stresses that physical infrastructure alone cannot solve the deeper problems faced by schools in Malaysia. "Improving schools requires us to look beyond just buildings and physical facilities," she told FMT.

"Investing in better teaching, early identification of learning gaps, and helping struggling students achieve meaningful academic success can help Malaysia tackle two crises simultaneously: preventing school tragedies and nurturing a capable and functional generation." Azimah believes student engagement in learning is the primary contributing factor to school-related issues.

She states that students facing difficulties mastering basic skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic often feel unfulfilled, isolated, and disengaged. "Funding in this budget needs to be dynamically expanded to support teaching and learning (PdP) in the classroom, directly addressing the issue of disinterested students, which is the root cause of increased violence, murder, and suicide in schools," she said.

Azimah also urges the establishment of clearer funding targets, transparent reporting, and measurable outcomes, while urging parents to want the additional funding to generate tangible improvements. University of Malaya (UKM) academic Anuar Ahmad also urges greater emphasis on teaching quality, urging the government to prioritize teacher refresher courses to meet the needs of changing classrooms.

"If we want to improve education quality, learning must be given priority," he said. Anuar noted that teachers who have served for 20 to 30 years need opportunities to update their teaching methods, especially with the growing use of information and communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI). "Teachers are still teaching using outdated methods.

Students become bored, and ultimately, the quality of learning deteriorates," he said. The budget announcement announced yesterday allocated RM2 billion for school maintenance and renovation, while nearly RM1.3 billion is earmarked for upgrading 682 weak schools, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. The budget also allocated RM870 million for the Supplementary School Meal Program, benefiting 800 students, among other initiatives.

Additional measures include a RM50 increase for Special Education Students' Meal Allowance and a teaching incentive for Special Education. Approximately RM445 million is also allocated to the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) for the establishment of pre-schools in Gua Musang, Kelantan, and an orphanage for Orang Asli children in Kinta, Perak, to accommodate students living far from schools.

While the education budget has increased from RM66.2 billion in 2026, it must be translated into tangible improvements on the ground, according to Magpie (Malacca Parent Action Group for Education) chairperson, Mak Chee Kin. "An increase in the education budget is warranted, but success should not be measured solely by the amount of funding," she said.

NUTP (National Union of Teachers in Primary Schools) secretary general, Fouzi Singon, notes that the maintenance budget should cover approximately 10,200 schools, in addition to teacher training institutes, vocational colleges, and other educational facilities. He urges the ministry to prioritize funding based on urgent needs, safety risks, and the needs of each institution to ensure fair and effective allocation of funds.

"Although school safety is now a top concern, the ministry must identify effective long-term solutions to prevent recurring incidents. 'While installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras is one step that can help initiate action, it must be complemented by other preventive measures,' he said.