Hema Letchamanan, project leader for Projek BacaBaca and The Night School
PETALING JAYA: The education sector emerged as the biggest beneficiary of Budget 2026, with RM66.2bil allocated, an increase from RM64.2bil in the previous year.
Hema Letchamanan, project leader for Projek BacaBaca and The Night School under the Education For All Impact Lab at Taylor’s University, said the largest single allocation to the education sector sends a strong political signal, highlighting the prioritisation of human capital in national development planning.
“This aligns with the government’s narrative that education is the engine for upward mobility, innovation, and equitable growth,” she told StarBiz 7.
During the tabling of Budget 2026, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim outlined various segments within the education sector that will receive funding.
These include nearly RM2bil for upgrading 520 dilapidated schools, particularly in the East Coast, and free education for 5,800 students from low-income families attending public universities.
Hema noted that each allocation is justified, especially the long-overdue upgrades to school infrastructure and support for school aides.
“No child should learn in unsafe classrooms, and teachers need support to focus on pedagogy. What’s crucial now is equitable distribution and transparent execution, especially for rural and under-resourced schools,” she added.
On gaps in the current ecosystem, Hema emphasised the need for stronger remedial and learning recovery programmes to support students still struggling with foundational reading and numeracy.
“Developed countries like Australia and New Zealand channel significant funding into early intervention, teacher professional development and learning support for students who fall behind. Malaysia’s budget still leans heavily on infrastructure. It needs to balance this with investments that strengthen foundational learning and ensure every child can catch up, not just attend school,” she said.
Meanwhile, the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) Peninsular Malaysia welcomed the government’s decision to review and increase civil servant salaries under the Public Service Remuneration System.
“This measure is a recognition of the dedication and sacrifices of teachers and other civil servants who have played a vital role in the nation’s development,” it said.
On the construction of 38 new schools nationwide, the union stressed the importance of aligning school planning with teacher recruitment projections.
“In the previous year, 44 new schools were approved, and the addition of 38 more this year demonstrates that investment in education continues to be a priority.”
