KUALA LUMPUR – The government will slash its allocation for Tamil schools by 40% next year.
Deputy Education Minister II Muslimin Yahaya said this is to ensure funds are distributed in a transparent and wholesome manner, taking into account the number of schools and type of schools, as well as their individual needs.
Muslimin said Tamil schools in Malaysia will only be given RM29.98 million to cover administration costs next year, in stark contrast to the RM50 million allocated for 2020.
“The Education Ministry had requested from the Finance Ministry to allow the allocation of funds for schools to be determined by the former.
"As outlined in the Education Act 1966, it is the responsibility of the government to fully administer all government schools.
"At the same time, the government can allocate assistance funds for government-assisted schools," Muslimin said.
He added that the government has identified schools that require lower fund allocations and an additional RM30 million will be provided to cover any critical administration requirements of those schools.
Muslimin was replying to a question in Parliament's Special Chamber on December 1 from Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu (PH-Batu Gajah) concerning allocations for Tamil schools.
Sivakumar asked if government allocations for Tamil schools could be used to purchase information technology (IT) and audio-visual equipment.
He also asked how much of the RM50 million for Tamil schools in 2020 has been used, and what the government will do with the remaining funds.
Muslimin said that the government spent only RM38.62 million for 308 Tamil schools up to November 25.
However, he said the balance cannot be simply spent unless Tamil schools make a formal request.
In other words, the government will not be able to spend the remaining balance of the allocation unless a Tamil school makes a formal application to use those funds.
With regard to the purchase of learning and IT equipment for Tamil schools, Muslimin said that the funds cannot be used for that purpose.
"The funds that have been allocated for administration can only be used for administration matters and its related infrastructure.
"It cannot be used for the purchase of IT equipment,” said Muslimin.
On November 9, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan had reportedly promised the Indian community that adequate allocation will be given to Tamil schools.
Saravanan had said that RM50 million will be provided by the government for the country's education development as a whole, which encompasses Tamil schools.
Saravanan also asked the Indian community to be patient as the announcement for the allocations for Tamil schools would be detailed soon. – The Vibes, December 7, 2020
