{"id":8537,"date":"2024-10-25T12:00:51","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T04:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/?p=8537"},"modified":"2024-11-20T16:57:58","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T08:57:58","slug":"malaysias-budget-2025-a-step-forward-for-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/malaysias-budget-2025-a-step-forward-for-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Malaysia&#8217;s Budget 2025: A Step Forward for Education"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malaysia&#8217;s Budget 2025 was tabled recently and the government has allocated RM64.1 billion to the education sector. This marked an increase from the RM58.7 billion allocated in 2024. With the Ministry of Education receiving the highest allocation in history, it\u2019s clear that education is a top priority.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8549 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/napkin-selection-4-300x135.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/napkin-selection-4-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/napkin-selection-4-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/napkin-selection-4-18x8.png 18w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/napkin-selection-4.png 999w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" \/><\/b><\/h4>\n<h4><b>Key Summary<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Wondering where the RM64.1 billion will go?<\/strong> Well, the majority of the education budget goes into the paying of the salaries and other business-as-usual operational costs which benefits over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.powerbi.com\/view?r=eyJrIjoiZDcxN2UxZTctMmY5MS00ZmYxLTgwY2ItOTIzNGRkN2NmNGEwIiwidCI6ImQ3M2UwNDFkLWE2MzAtNDg5NS05NmZlLWRiMGUxZTc0Y2Y5OCIsImMiOjEwfQ%3D%3D\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">416,000<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> teachers employed in the public education sector and over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.powerbi.com\/view?r=eyJrIjoiZDcxN2UxZTctMmY5MS00ZmYxLTgwY2ItOTIzNGRkN2NmNGEwIiwidCI6ImQ3M2UwNDFkLWE2MzAtNDg5NS05NmZlLWRiMGUxZTc0Y2Y5OCIsImMiOjEwfQ%3D%3D\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 million students <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enrolled in public schools. Other key allocation items for the Ministry of Education in Budget 2025 include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RM2 billion designated for upgrading and maintaining schools nationwide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The construction of 44 new schools will begin next year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RM100 million allocated for expanding internet access in rural schools.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RM5.3 billion set aside for 17 types of education assistance, including:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RM2 billion for hostel food assistance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RM870 million for the Rancangan Makanan Tambahan (RMT), benefiting over 860,000 students from low-income families.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly RM800 million for Bantuan Awal Persekolahan (Early School Assistance), expected to aid 5.2 million students.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RM180 million for the Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pelajar Miskin (KWAPM).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An increase in the TVET Education Per Capita Grant rate to 15%.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RM10 million earmarked for additional Rural School Assistance for 687 rural schools.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An increase in the monthly Living Allowance for teacher trainees under the Bachelor of Education Programme in Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) from RM430 to RM530.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find out more about the allocation breakdown for the Ministry of Education on pages 52-54 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/belanjawan.mof.gov.my\/pdf\/belanjawan2025\/ucapan\/touchpoint-budget-en.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sini<\/span><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h4><b>Broadening Access to Quality Education<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8539 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/TFM-Week-2023-SK-RPS-Kemar-094-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"541\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/TFM-Week-2023-SK-RPS-Kemar-094-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/TFM-Week-2023-SK-RPS-Kemar-094-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/TFM-Week-2023-SK-RPS-Kemar-094-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/TFM-Week-2023-SK-RPS-Kemar-094.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 541px) 100vw, 541px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similar to previous years, substantial portions of the education budget are allocated towards operational costs, including teacher salaries, infrastructure improvements, and direct financial aid. These areas are vital for ensuring broader access to quality education. The increase in allocation for direct assistance aimed at low-income families such as the RMT programme and KWAPM will help enable and encourage more students to attend school. The RM2 billion designated for upgrading and maintaining schools nationwide, along with the RM10 million for additional rural school assistance, will improve students&#8217; learning environments and address disparities in educational resources and opportunities. However, it is crucial to ensure all of these funds are used efficiently, with minimal leakages, and ensure that projects are completed in a timely manner.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>The Quality of Education Rises and Falls on the Quality of our Teachers<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8540 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AKZ09365-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"497\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AKZ09365-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AKZ09365-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AKZ09365-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AKZ09365-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AKZ09365-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AKZ09365-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AKZ09365-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re heartened to see that the budget allocation for both pre-service and in-service teacher training has increased as the key to improving educational outcomes lies in enhancing teaching quality. There is a nearly two-fold increase in allocations directed towards institutions focused on teacher development, namely Institut Pendidikan Guru and Institut Aminuddin Baki.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/the-work-of-building-a-nation-starts-in-the-classroom\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">previous article<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we outlined why investing in teachers is key to achieving quality education and called for a substantial boost in investment towards high-quality continuous professional development to better address teachers\u2019 development needs. On this end, the allocation for in-service teacher training has risen from RM14 million in 2024 to RM19.6 million in 2025\u2014a 40% increase that signals the government\u2019s recognition of its importance. Support for our existing teachers is crucial, as the majority of those teaching today will remain in the profession for decades to come. Nevertheless, with over 416,000 teachers nationwide, this allocation amounts to just RM47 per teacher. Moreover, while the increase is a positive step, the real impact will depend on how effectively these resources are utilised to provide tailored, high-quality continuous professional development (CPD) that meets teachers\u2019 needs, empowering them to become more effective in the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Innovative Global Approaches to Enhancing Education Access and Quality<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8541 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Student-raising-hand-participation-HIGH-RES-scaled-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"518\" height=\"345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Student-raising-hand-participation-HIGH-RES-scaled-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Student-raising-hand-participation-HIGH-RES-scaled-1-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Student-raising-hand-participation-HIGH-RES-scaled-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Student-raising-hand-participation-HIGH-RES-scaled-1-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Student-raising-hand-participation-HIGH-RES-scaled-1-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Student-raising-hand-participation-HIGH-RES-scaled-1-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Student-raising-hand-participation-HIGH-RES-scaled-1-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tabling of the budget has also inspired us to look into education assistance programmes and initiatives to improve the quality of education from around the world. Here are some examples as food for thought.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moe.gov.sg\/financial-matters\/edusave-account\"><b>Singapore\u2019s EduSave Account<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a government initiative that provides each student with financial support for enrichment activities, extracurriculars, and educational materials. The account is opened automatically for all Singapore Citizen students. The government contributes annually to each child&#8217;s EduSave account from age 7 to 16 years old and parents can withdraw from the account to pay for resources and enrichment activities as per the issued guidelines. Recent annual contributions range from SGD230 to SGD270 depending on the students\u2019 grade level and one-off top ups by the governments have also been made based on their budget. Singaporean students who excel academically and in non-academic areas can also receive <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moe.gov.sg\/financial-matters\/awards-scholarships\/edusave-awards\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EduSave awards or scholarships<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through their EduSave accounts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Queensland, Australia, the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/education.qld.gov.au\/parents-and-carers\/school-information\/student-resource-scheme\"><b>Student Resource Scheme (SRS)<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> helps families by providing affordable access to essential learning materials, such as textbooks, digital resources, and other school supplies. This is done through bulk purchasing and hiring arrangements to ensure that all students have access to the necessary learning tools by offering resources at a lower cost than if parents had to purchase them individually. By reducing the financial burden on families, SRS helps ensure that all students have the tools they need to learn and thrive, regardless of their economic situation.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides direct assistance, governments have also taken innovative approaches to improve the quality of education by setting up independent education foundations or commissions. In the UK, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk\/\"><b>Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">received a \u00a3125 Million one-off grant from the UK\u2019s Department of Education to fund and evaluate interventions aimed at reducing the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers. The<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/ero.govt.nz\/about-us\"><b>Education Review Office<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is New Zealand\u2019s external evaluation agency that informs and facilitates improvement in the education system. In Wales, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/estyn.gov.wales\/about-us\/\"><b>Estyn<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is funded by but works independently of the Welsh Government to inspect education and training in Wales. While our Ministry of Education currently has an inspectorate department that reports internally, an approach like this may foster greater transparency and trust while accelerating improvements in education.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, Budget 2025 represents a significant step forward for Malaysian education. It reaffirms the government\u2019s commitment to enhancing access to quality education. However, we must ensure that reforms are thoughtfully considered at both the policy and implementation levels. Despite the significant investments that the Ministry of Education has received, we have yet to see substantial improvements in educational outcomes. The challenges facing our education system require robust solutions that address systemic issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the budget acts as an enabler, its true impact will be limited without well-designed policies and effective implementation. It is crucial that the funds not only reach the ground but are also safeguarded against leakages, with continuous efforts to ensure efficient use. One way the government can ensure high-quality delivery is by leveraging the expertise of private sector and civil society organisations (CSOs) in specific areas, creating more opportunities for collaboration and stronger public-private partnerships. Nevertheless, the high priority given to education in this Budget underscores TFM\u2019s belief that the work of building a nation starts in the classroom. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have thoughts on Budget 2025? Share them with us in the comments of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DBiL7pRt7Cu\/?img_index=1\">Budget 2025 Instagram post<\/a>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Malaysia&#8217;s Budget 2025 was tabled recently and the government has allocated RM64.1 billion to the education sector. This marked an increase from the RM58.7 billion allocated in 2024. With the&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8543,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[164,166,167,165],"class_list":{"0":"post-8537","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ed-pulse","8":"tag-budget","9":"tag-education-ministry","10":"tag-malaysia","11":"tag-moe"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8537"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8537\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8550,"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8537\/revisions\/8550"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teachformalaysia.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}