Education Priorities to Remain Intact Despite Budget 2027 Cost-Saving Measures, Says Fadhlina
KUALA LUMPUR: Cost-saving initiatives expected to be incorporated into Malaysia’s Budget 2027 will not affect key education priorities, including teacher recruitment, classroom expansion projects and student welfare programmes, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has assured.
She said the Ministry of Education remains committed to safeguarding critical initiatives despite the government’s broader efforts to adopt more prudent spending measures in response to global economic uncertainties.
According to Fadhlina, strategic investments in education will continue because they are essential to the country’s long-term development and human capital goals.
Among the ministry’s major priorities are the recruitment of new teachers to address staffing needs and the construction of additional classrooms to accommodate growing student populations.
“We do not want the public to feel anxious about the government’s emphasis on expenditure management. While cost-saving measures are important under current circumstances, they will not affect matters that are central to the ministry’s priorities,” she said.
She was speaking after officiating an international symposium on literature, translation and artificial intelligence at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Fadhlina also stressed that the Supplementary Food Programme, commonly known as RMT, will continue uninterrupted.
She described the initiative as a vital component of student welfare, particularly for children from lower-income households who depend on the programme for daily nutritional support.
In addition, efforts to repair dilapidated schools and carry out maintenance works at educational facilities nationwide will proceed as planned.
The minister said maintaining safe and conducive learning environments remains a key responsibility of the ministry.
She further assured that the introduction of the new curriculum scheduled for next year would not be delayed or scaled back due to budgetary adjustments.
Likewise, preparations for the enrolment of six-year-old children entering Year One will continue according to schedule.
Fadhlina emphasised that all major educational reforms and programmes have been carefully planned and will remain protected despite the government’s efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline.
The assurances come after Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim indicated on May 29 that Budget 2027 would place greater emphasis on expenditure optimisation and cost-control measures.
Anwar said growing global economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainties have increased the need for prudent fiscal management across government agencies.
He noted that international developments and regional tensions have contributed to economic challenges that require governments worldwide to reassess spending priorities.
Meanwhile, Fadhlina also addressed the RM100 book voucher initiative announced recently for secondary school students and public university students.
She said the vouchers would be distributed once schools reopen, allowing beneficiaries to purchase books and educational materials.
The programme is expected to support reading habits among young Malaysians while also providing a boost to the local publishing and bookselling industry.
Despite the government’s focus on fiscal discipline, the ministry maintains that investments directly linked to educational quality, student welfare and national development will remain protected under future budget planning.
