KUCHING: The RM250 million allocation under Budget 2011 for national schools nationwide is insufficient, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng said.
Datuk Yong Khoon Seng
Elaborating, he said considering that there were 2,000 to 3,000 national schools, religious and mission schools in the country, each would only get an estimated RM10,000, which is grossly inadequate.
As such, he urged schools to raise their own funds while waiting for government grants.
“Only with enough funds can you improve school conditions,” said Yong at the ‘Brickthon’ fund-raising closing ceremony at SK St Andrew here yesterday.
The fund-raising event held from July managed to collect RM12,000.
Yong added that in the allocation of grants, the government would look into every case carefully, especially on its urgency and needs.
On the other hand, the deputy minister was satisfied that adequate funds had been allocated for works and upgrading of facilities.
“We do not spend a lot in a short time. It takes time to implement upgrading projects and we do it stage by stage,” he said.
Yong had donated RM5,000 to the school for upgrading of facilities and for its Students Food Supplement Programme.
Founded in 1958 with 45 students, the school now has 28 teachers and 470 students studying in two sessions.