PETALING JAYA: Budget 2027 allocation for the education sector, which again received the largest share, will help tackle the rising living costs, say parent and teacher groups.
They said the financial aid for students and their families must reach and benefit the recipients.
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said supporting students financially is an investment in their future.
“We should ensure that financial hardship does not prevent capable students from completing their education or pursuing higher studies,” she said, commenting on the increase in Early Schooling Assistance (BAP), RM2,500 cost-of-living allowance for 90,000 Form Six students, and a RM870mil allocation for the Supplementary Food Programme for more than 800,000 pupils.
While welcoming the measures, she said it was important to recognise that raising the allowance alone will not address the full financial and practical challenges facing these families.
This is especially so as some students require specialised learning resources and additional support, she added.
Beyond cash assistance, Noor Azimah said the government must look at how schools can reduce unnecessary costs.
“The success of the education budget should be measured by improvements in teaching quality, student learning outcomes and school conditions. Every ringgit allocated to education must translate into meaningful benefits for students,” she added.
SK Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman Ameirul Azraie Mustadza said while the additional RM50 for the BAP will help offset some costs for school supplies, timely distribution, preferably before the school session begins, will make the assistance more useful.
He also said the expansion of teacher assistants recruitment to 200 high-density primary schools was very encouraging.
“Having adequate support should give teachers more time to prepare lessons, teach and attend to children who need additional help,” he added.
Kolej Tingkatan Enam Tun Fatimah, Melaka, PTA chairman Mak Chee Kin said the RM2,500 allowance for Form Six students is a positive and meaningful initiative, particularly for students from B40 and lower-income families who face financial difficulties in pursuing their education.
“I have witnessed firsthand the financial challenges faced by some students.
“Some struggle to afford their daily meals, let alone contribute towards PTA activities and other school-related expenses,” he said.
National Union of Teaching Profession of Malaysia (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon said the government should provide a more detailed breakdown of the allocations to ensure greater transparency, accountability and a clearer understanding of how public funds are distributed across the various sectors and divisions under the Education Ministry.
