School system at great risk if Budget 2021 not passed, say educators

KUALA LUMPUR – Budget 2021 is vital to ensure the Education Ministry's plans and direction for next year will not be affected.

Under the national budget tabled earlier this month, the education sector continued to receive the largest allocation with RM50.4 billion, or 15.6% of total government expenditure, to cover aspects such as health protocols in schools, infrastructure repair, learning facilities and the empowerment of the Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET) programme and special education.

National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) president Aminuddin Awang said that if Budget 2021 is not approved, it will disrupt the continuity of the country’s education system.

“We are worried that all the processes, especially the planned improvement and maintenance of schools, will not be implemented according to schedule. Not only that, it will also affect low-income families from the B40 group, such as through the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT), which involves many pupils from the B40 group,” he said.

Malaysian Muslim Teachers’ Association (i-Guru) president Mohd Azizee Hasan echoed similar sentiments, saying that rejecting the budget will affect the online teaching and learning process (PdP).

He said this was because Budget 2021, among others, focuses on increasing internet access through the National Digital Infrastructure Plan (Jendela) initiative – which aims to ensure connectivity for 430 schools nationwide – and the RM1.5 billion Jaringan Prihatin, which will benefit eight million people in the B40 group.

“This assistance will reduce their financial burden in obtaining internet facilities. They will each receive RM180 to be used for internet subscription expenses or to cover part of the cost of purchasing a new mobile phone,” he said.

Similar views were also expressed by Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies Association (MyBIM) deputy president Amir Hamidi Abd Manan, who said any drastic decision on Budget 2021 will greatly impact the special education sector.

“The RM45 million allocation is a huge amount for the special education sector. Without it, the ministry will have difficulty carrying out special education empowerment work as scheduled,” he said.

He said with this allocations, various programmes can be improved, such as those to boost the skills of Malaysian sign language among special education teachers, bridging the digital divide and improving TV Pendidikan with the services of certified sign language interpreters.

Meanwhile, National Association of Skilled Workers secretary-general Mohammad Rizan Hassan said rejecting Budget 2021 will create manpower issues down the road.

“Currently, many public and private training providers are implementing the Penjana initiative through the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso), which relies fully on government funds for training in skills development as well as employment opportunities for affected people, including youth.

“Budget 2021 also allocates up to RM6 billion for TVET across many ministries, such as the National Dual Training System, National Apprenticeship Scheme and Skills Development and Fund Corporation,” he said. – Bernama, November 22, 2020