JOHOR BAHRU: The Ministry of Education (MoE) hopes that there will be an additional allocation for the education sector in the 2023 Budget which will be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, next month.

Its minister Fadhlina Sidek said the additional allocation will then be channeled to schools towards managing and maintenance, especially of dilapidated schools.

This is to ensure that there are no marginalised schools not only in Peninsular Malaysia but also in Sabah and Sarawak, she told reporters after visiting Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) (P) Bandar Tinggi, here, today.

"It is indeed our priority, that's why I said when it becomes a priority, surely in the budget there must also be focus on the development of schools throughout the country.

""Every year there must be (additional allocation). People think that the Ministry of Education's expenditure is huge, in fact most of it is for salaries or emoluments, the rest is only then (used) for development.


"So we always look for additions (additional allocations) from time to time, among others to be used to manage and maintain schools," added the Member of Parliament for Nibong Tebal.

In Budget 2022, MoE received the highest allocation, at RM52.6 billion.

Touching on dilapidated schools, she said there are more than 300 such schools throughout Malaysia with 12 of them in Johor.

In addition to these schools, MoE will also look into the maintenance and improvement of dilapidated teachers' quarters for the comfort and well-being of the teachers affected.

At today's event, she also announced an allocation of RM500,000 for SK (P) Bandar Tinggi for repairing parts of its old building.

-- BERNAMA