KUALA LUMPUR – The Education Ministry will not be categorising teachers as frontliners due to the financial impact it will have on the government.
“Taking into account the number of teachers nationwide, the ministry is aware of the financial implications on the government if teachers are given the special allowance allocated for frontliners,” the Education Ministry said in a parliamentary written reply yesterday.
The ministry was replying to a question by Abdul Latiff Rahman (PAS-Kuala Krai) on whether the government was ready to categorise teachers as frontliners.
“The Education Ministry will prioritise the welfare of teachers and take steps to assist teachers, improving internet capabilities and communication infrastructures, to ensure education agendas can be implemented better,” it said.
Last month, Teo Nie Ching (PH-Kulai) raised the issue of 37% of Malaysian students lacking devices for online learning.
She added that, while there are educational television programmes for students, they are below par, giving the example of how Primary One pupils only had one 30-minute mathematics lesson over a whole week.
During the tabling of Budget 2021, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz had announced a RM500 one-off cash aid as a show of appreciation for the Health Ministry's frontliners, benefiting 100,000 medical staff. – The Vibes, December 11, 2020
