What we want from Budget 2022 – by teachers’ groups

 

Budget 2022 must give priority for improvement of school infrastructure, several teachers’ groups say. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: With Budget 2022 to be tabled in Parliament on Oct 29, many in the education sector have pointed out improvements that need to be carried out by the government.

Parent Action Group for Education’s (PAGE) honorary secretary Tunku Munawirah Putra said that blended learning, combining physical and virtual classrooms, should be prioritised.

“We can’t go back to the old ways of face-to-face learning and completely abandon the virtual learning foundation that was forced upon us,” she told FMT.

Munawirah said the government should equip schools and students with the necessary devices, network and virtual learning platforms.

“We need to take advantage of what we have experienced and work towards improved learning, with technology as an enabler,” she said.

Hussin Basir, president of the Sabah’s government teachers’ union (KGKS). hoped that there will be a bigger allocation for better internet connectivity for schools in rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak to narrow the digital gap with schools in the peninsula.

He said the government should upgrade buildings that were in poor condition.

“We also hope to see schools obtain easier access to basic facilities like proper roads, electricity and water supply,” he said.

Sarawak Teachers Union president Adam Prakash Abdullah said the infrastructure of schools should be given attention.

“The dilapidated schools stay the same for years but the good schools become better,” Adam told FMT.

“STU hopes that there will be a special allocation for this and that strict monitoring will be done in the disbursement of funds for the purpose,” he said.

He also hoped the education ministry would further promote the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme and allow entry requirements to be based on skills instead of just academic qualifications.

Melaka Action Group for Parents’ (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin said there was a need to cut down the bureaucracy faced by schools that need upgrading and repairs.

He gave an example of a centre that was promised RM500,000 in 2019 to convert a workshop into a hall. It has yet to receive it.

“It is heartbreaking that the only Form 6 centre does not even have a hall but millions can be spent to upgrade the official residence of the prime minister,” he said.

Mak also suggested that the government offer a one-off subsidy for each student to buy a laptop.

“We would like to urge the government to bring back and increase tax relief for buying reading materials, both for personal consumption or as a contribution to schools,” he said.

National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Wang Heng Suan suggested that the government give a RM1,000 rebate to teachers to buy devices for the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) “which is now a pillar in education”.

“The government should also increase its efforts to allow students, especially the less fortunate, to own more devices for the purpose of PdPR,” he told FMT.

He said infrastructure, especially for the internet, should be improved to narrow the digital divide between the urban and rural areas.

He also hoped that the government would give teachers with master’s degrees and doctorates a salary increase and give attention to those who have completed grade DG54.

“Previously, the government had announced a proposal to place teachers on the DG56 grade but it has not been implemented. NUTP hopes that this matter can be given due attention.”

All civil servants, including teachers, should also get an annual salary increase as promised in the 16th Civil Service Premier Assembly (MAPPA) in 2018, he said. - FMT