Boost to education
The recent budget will not only benefit schools and tertiary institutions, but will bring about positive outcomes to all learners.
STUDENTS and teachers are set to benefit from the new Budget 2018, tabled last Friday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
To steer Malaysia forward to becoming the education hub in Southeast Asia, Najib noted that a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centre will be set up to develop the latest learning methods to train STEM specialist teachers utilising existing facilities at teachers training institute in collaboration with Academy of Science Malaysia.
He also mentioned that a sum of RM190mil has been allocated to upgrade 2,000 classes into 21st Century Smart Classrooms, and that the Computer Science module including Coding programmes in the primary and secondary school curriculum will be enhanced.
In an effort to inculcate the reading culture among youngsters, Najib said the government would be providing Book Voucher Assistance of RM250 each to students in Higher Learning Institutions (HLI) as well as those studying in Form Six.
National schools will receive RM250mil; National-type Chinese Schools, RM50mil; National-type Tamil Schools, RM50mil; Mission schools, RM50mil; Boarding Schools, RM50mil; Mara Junior Science Colleges, RM50mil; Government-aided Religious Schools, RM50mil.
The 2,000 dilapidated schools nationwide that needs upgrading and refurbishing, will receive RM2.5bil for a period of two years, of which RM500mil to schools in Peninsular Malaysia, RM1bil each in Sabah and Sarawak.
A total of RM2.9bil has been allocated for food assistance, textbooks, per capita grants and Federal Scholarships for schools.
Schooling Assistance worth RM100 per student from the low-income household will be continued.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said the budget was a step in the right direction.
Focus on TVET and STEM
He said the focus on both technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and STEM, would propel the country forward.
“We need STEM professionals like engineers, as well as skilled workers like technicians.”
Describing the planned STEM training centre for teachers as “very good news”, Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin said the move would address the lack of competent teachers to teach STEM – especially in English.
“We’re also hopeful that all computer science module teachers will be properly trained.
“Sadly, basic computer science, coding, and design and technology, are currently taught by teachers who are trained to teach living skills, and civics education,” he said, commenting on the RM250mil allocation for the setting up of the STEM training centre and improvement of computer science modules in schools.
Parent Action Group for Malaysia (PAGE) honorary secretary Tunku Munawirah Putra welcomed the government’s efforts to enhance STEM education in Malaysia.
She added that these classrooms should have the best streaming speed – a must for e-learning – especially since Coding classes would require that facility.
“This efforts would entice more students to be interested in science and the country needs this to achieve its objective to increase the number of students pursuing STEM,” she added.
“Developing the STEM teachers of tomorrow must begin now or else, by 2025, we will still be stuck and handicapped by our own malaise to move the goalpost.
“We must ensure that the development of future STEM teachers and professionals in STEM must have the necessary skills to survive in this fast evolving world,” said Tunku Munawirah.
Mak also called for the RM550mil repair and maintenance allocation for schools to be disbursed as early as possible.
Tan welcomed the allocation for repair and maintenance because “you have to take care of what you’ve built”.
“We need to have a handyman in schools as well.
“It’s difficult to get contractors to do minor repairs like changing the lights or fixing broken chairs because these are small jobs that don’t pay well.
“We hope the allocation can also be used to hire a handyman in schools.”
On the three extra leave days for civil servants in education, he said the move recognised the hard work teachers put in.
The Government is extending discounts for repayment of National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans until Dec 31, 2018.
Loan borrowers will receive a 20% rebate on the outstanding debt for a full settlement; 10% for repayment of at least 50% on the outstanding debt made in a single payment; and 10% for repayment through salary deductions or scheduled direct debit.
Those intending to pursue their studies to a higher level, for example from diploma to undergraduate, may combine both loans into a single loan and to repay upon completion of their studies.
Borrowers will also be pleased to know that the grace period for loan repayment has been extended to 12 months upon completion of study, as compared to the six months period currently.
National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) borrowers have reacted positively to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s budget announcement.
Suthan Kusala Kumaran, 25, welcomed Najib’s call on extending the grace period given for the settlement of loans to 12 months.
“This extension is definitely good news as it gives graduates more time to secure a job,,” he said.
The financial analyst also gave the thumbs-up that a 20% discount would be given to those who fully paid their loans.
“However, we should also see how many borrowers can in fact, repay their loans in a lump sum.
“Currently, borrowers are given a 10% discount if they repay back via salary cuts or direct debit according to schedule.
“Monthly deduction should be explored more as not everyone can afford to repay their loan in a full settlement even with the discount in place,” added Kumaran.
Universiti Malaya medical graduate Tun Yun Tien, 24, said the extension in the grace period would lighten the burden and pressure on fresh graduates when looking for jobs.
“It takes time to secure a job as well as postings for medical graduates,” she added.
PTPTN chairman Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah thanked the Government for announcing an inclusive budget.
“I am pleased with it as it is in line with PTPTN’s goals and expectations in ensuring the consistent repayment of loans by borrowers.
“The budget also promotes the culture of saving for educational purposes,” said Dr Shamsul.
He said the budget would provide a positive impact on borrowers to make sure they repay. There are also discounts in place to encourage them to do so.
R&D breakthrough
Public universities will be receiving a substantial boost in grants for research and development (R&D) purposes.
Under the budget, RM400mil will be provided to public universities, compared with RM235mil allocated in the previous budgets.
There is also a special allocation for Universiti Malaya (UM) to achieve the status of Top 100 Universities in the World.
Describing R&D as vital to provide new innovation and knowledge, Universiti Malaya (UM) deputy vice-chancellor (Research & Innovation) Prof Dr Noor-saadah Abd Rahman said the budget increase was a good effort by the government as it give opportunities for Malaysia to compete globally.
“If Malaysia intends to be a developed, high-income nation, we need to have our own knowledge and technology rather than continuously buying them from other nations,” she said.
Prof Noor-saadah said UM was pleased to be able to receive the special allocation as it needed to conduct more transformative research and enhance its reputation globally, in terms of research and the quality of education provided.
She added that UM would continue to work harder to further improve its ranking.
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) vice-chancellor Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Hassan Said expressed his thanks for the R&D allocation, saying it will provide more opportunities for innovation and commercialisation by Malaysians, researchers,” he said.
“It will also put local universities on par with many top foreign universities,” he said.
UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris said the allocation would ensure sustainability of research which was vital for global visibility and reputation.
“We would be able enhance commercialisation efforts and transnational research that would impact community, and at the same time, localise economic growth within specific communities,” she said.
In the last few years we have been receiving a very limited budget to sustain research momentum. Research is such an important component in academia, she added.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said in a statement that the move indicated that the Government was determined to make Malaysia the education hub of the region in ensuring the proper infrastructure and opportunities are readied to welcome more students into higher education.
More allocations for research means that there are areas that can be explored and discovered, making Malaysia the place forlocal and international students to carry out research.The varsity also pointed out that research and knowledge creation can also become a source of generating income for the country.
The economy can be expanded to include the industries to spur the growth of the nation, especially in the era where the country is strengthening its competitive advantage in matters related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, said the university.
Najib also spoke on the MyBrain Programme which would produce more postgraduates.
Students will get the opportunity for further their studies and contribute to knowledge creation.
About 10,600 individuals in the MyBrain Programme will be sharing RM90mil to pursue the Masters and PhD programames.
He also said the intake of Indian students to public universities would be increased to 7%.
Educationist Datuk Dr T. Marimuthu said the 7% target for Indian students was much needed.
“We need a quota system for now because many Indians are in the B40 category, or bottom 40% of households.
“Eventually our students must compete on merit but for now, we need help.
“While having more Indians pursuing courses in university is important, the government must also address the social-economic issues plaguing the community,” he said, adding that many Indians drop out of school without sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
“They have the brains to compete on merit but issues like poverty and social ills must be addressed first,” added Dr Marimuthu.