The Malaysian Insight

THE National Union of the Teaching Profession Malaysia (NUTP) hopes bureaucracy does not impede in the effort to carry out repairs on dilapidated schools.

NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan said it hopes the money will be disbursed quickly to the schools in need of repair.

“It has always been our request that more money is spent on maintaining the schools. 

“We hope that the schools will not be burdened with bureaucracy to use this money,” said Tan.

The Budget 2021 announced today that a total of RM800 million is provided for the maintenance and repair of government schools and government-aided schools. 

This includes the upgrading and building of open halls or covered structures for government school students to assemble comfortably and safely. 

An additional cost of RM725 million will be allocated to upgrade buildings and infrastructure in 50 dilapidated schools.

For schools in rural Sabah and Sarawak, the government will implement 184 construction projects and install tube well water supply with a total project cost of RM120 million. 

“The RM725 million to repair dilapidated schools is commendable but it must be disbursed quickly as these schools have to endure these conditions for years,” Tan said. 

In regards to the allocation of RM420 million for daily milk supply for the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT), Tan said it will benefit many B40 students if the money is used to buy non-flavoured milk. 

As for laptop funding to 150,000 students in 500 schools as a pilot project supervised by Yayasan Hasanah, Tan hoped the government will be able to provide interest free loans to those in lower middle income families.

Tan also pushed for the government to provide for full-time wardens in schools with hostels which could be achieved through MyStep.

In Parliament today, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the government will introduce MySTEP or Short-term Employment Programme with more than RM700 million allocation.

Under this initiative, 50,000 job opportunities will be offered on a contract basis in the public sector and government-linked companies (GLC) starting in January 2021.

Of which, 35,000 jobs opportunities will be prioritised to fill up dire positions in the public sector, such as nurses, medical attendants, social welfare officers and temporary teachers.

GLCs will offer the 15,000 job opportunities focused on technical and financial fields, also extending for new graduates to participate in apprenticeship programmes. – November 6, 2020.