Macky Joseph
KUCHING: Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) is grateful for the allocation of RM60.2 billion to the education sector as indicated in the National Budget 2019, making the sector the largest recipient of fund for next year.
This reflects the sincerity of the federal government to improve the quality of education, said STU president Macky Joseph.
STU believes that the allocation should suffice if prudent spending is practised where money is spent according to needs, he said.
“From the allocation of RM60.2 billion, RM652 million is allocated to the upgrading and maintenance of schools while RM100 million is provided for the reconstruction of dilapidated schools,” Macky said.
In Sarawak, there are 1,020 dilapidated schools with 415 schools being categorised as being critically dilapidated.
“STU hopes that certain portion of this allocation will be given to these dilapidated schools so that reconstruction, repair, and upgrading works can take place in the soonest time possible,” said Macky.
Apart from the allocation to the Education Ministry, a further RM400 million has been allocated for the upgrading, repair and maintenance of government housing quarters including teacher quarters.
“As a Union that looks after the welfare of teachers, STU welcomes this allocation because some of the teacher quarters in Sarawak are substandard and rundown. Hopefully, with this allocation, the substandard teacher quarters in Sarawak can be repaired or reconstructed so that the affected teachers will no longer have to worry about their living conditions and can focus on shaping their students to become better citizens of Malaysia,” he said.
The announcement on tax exemption for all donations to fund the upgrading of infrastructure in schools is a novel move to incentivise and recognise Malaysians who contribute towards nation building but there must be a clear guideline or standard operating procedure on how the schools can receive such donation, which accounts the donation can go into, and who can issue the tax-exemption receipts to the donors, Macky stressed.
“With clear guidelines, it is hoped that more individuals and businesses are interested to help fund the upgrading of schools.”
To ease the burden of working mothers, the Federal Government has also allocated RM10 million to set up another 50 childcare facilities in government buildings. With women comprising 70 per cent of the teaching workforce, perhaps, some of these childcare facilities can be extended to teachers.
“The allocations of RM2.9 billion to help students from lower income groups, RM256 million for polytechnics, community colleges and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training), and RM3.8 billion for scholarships and educational loans are also very much welcome as they can greatly benefit our students.”
“As civil servants, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank the federal government for the special payment of RM500 which is to be paid out end of 2018,” Macky said.
The Budget was tabled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng at Parliament last Friday.