With renewed emphasis on national unity, language proficiency, and real-world learning, Budget 2026 is seen as a pivotal step toward building a future-ready, cohesive, and knowledge-driven nation.
The implementation of the civil servants salary adjustment under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) must be transparent, fair, and truly enhance the well-being of educators nationwide. While we welcome the construction of 38 new schools, we hope the planning aligns with teacher recruitment projections to avoid future staffing shortages. As for the construction of 35 additional blocks for special education students nationwide, we recommend that site selection prioritises accessibility via main roads and the inclusion of disabled-friendly facilities. We also hope the government will review the Supplementary Food Programme allocation as the number of students eligible has risen from 860,000 to 870,000, but the funds remain at RM870mil. The amount should be increased to reflect the growing number of beneficiaries. -National Union of the Teaching Profession of Malaysia (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon
For disability-friendly facilities and allowances, we encourage the government to collaborate with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure the aid provided is purposeful and effectively reaches the special needs community. Funding can be channelled through these NGOs to deliver targeted and impactful programmes. -National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) chairman Julian Wong
Budget 2026 strengthens Malaysia’s talent pipeline by expanding access to accounting education, while creating more opportunities for deserving and needy students to pursue the profession. The RM6bil allocation to MARA, Yayasan Peneraju, and UiTM will enable more Bumiputera talents to pursue professional accounting qualifications and increase the number of Chartered Accountants. This is key to building the talent pipeline for accountancy professionals. -Malaysian Institute of Accountants president Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Zabidi Ahmad
Budget 2026 underscores the importance of our national language, with renewed emphasis on strengthening Bahasa Melayu (BM) proficiency, including among Malaysian students in international schools. Mastery of our common language will give future graduates the ability to connect with Malaysians across communities in both business and professional life. Education is more than the acquisition of knowledge, it is a powerful conduit for unity and togetherness, and BM remains central to our shared identity as Malaysians. At the same time, the emphasis on English proficiency at the primary school level will ensure that the next generation is well-prepared to thrive in an interconnected, competitive global environment.-UNITAR faculty of education and humanities executive dean Prof Dr Mallika Govindarajoo
