Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad recalled how he wanted to helm the education portfolio but was not allowed to do so when commenting on the Education Ministry receiving the highest allocation in Budget 2019.
“Education is very important. I wanted to be the education minister, but they did not allow me. But we must educate the community.
“Education has changed. Now, you have to learn many things. It is not like in the past.
“Information technology, science, mathematics, algorithm. We must know all of this, if not, we will be left behind,” he told a press conference in Parliament.
In May, Mahathir was forced to set aside his intention of becoming the education minister after it was pointed out that the Pakatan Harapan manifesto forbade the premier from holding other portfolios.
Following this, Maszlee Malik was appointed as education minister.
The Education Ministry was allocated the most funds - RM60.2 billion or 19.1 percent of the total budget - in Budget 2019.
Highlights for the allocation for the education are as follows:
- RM2.9 billion was allocated to subsidise underprivileged students.
- Funds for upgrades and maintenance purposes increased by 6 percent to RM652 million. Private Chinese high schools are eligible for this fund for the first time ever.
- A RM100 million fund will be set up to establish special needs schools
- Two funds, totally RM50 million, will be established to improve TVET institutions.
- Research grants are set at RM400 million.
- A RM17.5 million program to train 600 bumiputera accountants will be established.
- Yayasan Peneraju Pendidikan Bumiputera will be allocated RM210 million.
- PTPTN repayment scheme was reworked.
- RM70 million was allocated for a Malaysian Future Leaders Scheme to train youths. - Mkini
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