Heatwave: Funding for fan maintenance in schools must be prioritised, says Education DG

PUTRAJAYA: All state and district education directors have been instructed to prioritise the use of allocated funds to maintain fans in schools due to the hot weather, says Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali (pic).

The Education Ministry director-general said the directive was issued in an engagement session with all education directors on May 3 to ensure that the facilities were in good condition and functioning.

"We at the Education Ministry always distribute special funds for the maintenance of school facilities at the state and district levels to ensure that facilities like fans are functioning properly," he said.

"Our message to the education directors at the state and district levels is that they should spend the appropriate funds on maintenance work as soon as possible," he said at a press conference after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the ministry and Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR).

Pkharuddin said the directive was in line with the ministry’s instruction to temporarily suspend all outdoor activities involving students, teachers and lecturers in light of the hot spell that the country is experiencing.

Media outlets reported today that the hot weather has prompted parents to buy electric mini-fans for their children to keep them comfortable while at school.

On the strategic collaboration over the ministry’s matriculation programme with YBR, he said YBR has agreed to provide scholarships worth RM4.7mil to 100 outstanding students from B40 (lower-income) and asnaf (tithe recipients) students graduating from the programme for the period 2022 to 2025.

"This funding will provide outstanding students the opportunity to enjoy having their tuition fees and living expenses for undergraduate studies at public and private institutions in the country covered," he said. - Bernama