KUALA LUMPUR – Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) took a swipe at the government for its proposed one-off payment of RM100 to teachers under the Education Ministry (MoE) after providing additional materials to students during the pandemic.
Its president Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the “pity money is laughable and an insult” to educators who face various challenges in teaching their students via home-based teaching and learning.
Instead, she said, the government should provide better incentives, structures, or career prospects for those teachers.
“In terms of teacher and leadership development, this will ultimately result in uplifting the teaching profession. It’s a lot of work, but we do not see that the ministry will have the appetite for it at this juncture.”
She added that the total of RM50 million – which has been earmarked to fund the purchase of teaching equipment and improve school facilities for special needs – should be utilised effectively.
“Special educational needs teachers need to be trained properly – we also need more of them. Schools need to also improve toilet facilities for the disabled and make schools accessible to them.”
On the RM1 billion allocation for school renovation and repair, she said she would like to see schools obtaining value for money and not end up with expenditure leakages.
Meanwhile, PAGE honorary secretary Tunku Munawirah Putra echoed similar sentiments, expressing disappointment over the absence of funding for hybrid learning although 21st century learning is here to stay.
“While the world speaks of a new normal – especially in education – the budget should have capitalised on our strength. The 21st-century learning is here to stay, but funding for hybrid learning appears absent.
“It is 21st-century learning that will bridge learning loss, as well as remove the excessive burden on teachers by turning students into self-learners.
She said parents are concerned over the loss of learning in their children.
“The finance minister speaks of a budget for education, but not of intervention for loss of learning in children and how to get back on track.”
Today, the government announced an allocation of RM52.6 billion for education, which is equivalent to 16% of the total government expenditure – making MoE the largest recipient of the national budget.
The ministry’s 2022 allocation is higher than the RM50.4 billion it received last year. – The Vibes, October 29, 2021
