Budget 2023: Education Ministry gets RM55.2bil, RM2.6bil more than Budget 2022

KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2023 saw the government focus on education with the Education Ministry getting the biggest slice of the pie with a total allocation of RM55.2bil.

The amount, announced by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while tabling Budget 2023, was RM2.6bil more than the amount allocated in Budget 2022.

"This includes RM2.3bil for the upgrade of dilapidated school buildings and infrastructures in 380 poor schools, maintenance of school amenities and building of OKU-friendly amenities, and building of open halls for school assemblies.

"Another RM777mil will be for Supplementary Food Plan (RMT), which will benefit 700,000 students. RM108mil will also be allocated for Preschool Food Aid (BMP) to benefit more than 240,000 students, a 21% increase from RM89mil last year," he said.

Anwar also announced that RM560mil would be allocated for the building of seven new schools in Terengganu, Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak.

He added that 50,000 laptops would also be provided to schools and education institutions under the ministry to facilitate digital teaching and learning.