Federal govt continues to invest in nation’s education, says senator

MIRI: The federal government, through the Ministry of Education (MoE), would continue to invest in improving the nation’s education system, especially in ensuring every school is well-quipped with the necessary facilities.

According to Senator Alan Ling, the increase in allocation for the ministry under Budget 2020 signifies that the federal government ‘is walking the talk’.

Moreover, equipping and upgrading the facilities in schools would help create an environment that is very conducive to the teaching and learning process, he adds.

“In 2019, a total of RM60.2 billion was allocated to the MoE and for 2020, the allocation has increased to RM64.1 billion. The government has also increased the funds for maintenance and upgrading, from RM652 million in 2019 to RM735 million in 2020, while an additional fund of R M20 million has been applied for vernacular schools like the SJKCs (Chinese aided primary schools).

“This additional fund could be used by SJKCs and other conforming schools like SMK Chung Hua Miri to upgrade their facilities slated for academics and administration. In 2018, SMK Chung Hua Miri received RM300,000 – the funding was increased to RM420,000 in 2019,” the senator told reporters after conducting a visit to SMK Chung Hua Miri yesterday.

In his briefing to Ling, SMK Chung Hua Miri principal Albert Ong said the works covered under the RM420,000 additional fund included the refurnishing of four classrooms and the roof over the school’s training hall, as well as repainting works on three academic blocks and also the walls around the school.

He said the current progress of works was at 95 per cent towards completion.

“With the fund, we also bought 1,000 tables and 600 chairs for the students, as well as 24 sets of tables and chairs for the administration office; replaced the curtains at the classrooms; and did tiling works on four classrooms.

“We also upgraded the toilets and the fire prevention infrastructure,” said Ong.

Additionally, he also said the works included upgrading the prayer’s room for the Muslim teachers.

“Of course, after the full completion of these works, we would apply funds for our 2020 project,” said Ong.

Rita Ting, who represented SMK Chung Hua Miri board of directors chairwoman Tan Sri Datuk Paduka Chai Yu Lan, was also briefed.