The Education Ministry will receive nearly RM69 billion under Budget 2027, up from RM66.2 billion in Budget 2026, retaining its position as the ministry with the largest allocation.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim said RM2 billion had been set aside for repairs and maintenance at schools nationwide.
The allocation includes RM900 million for national schools (SK), RM100 million for national-type Chinese schools (SJKC), RM50 million for national-type Tamil schools (SJKT), and RM200 million for people’s religious schools, tahfiz institutions and pondok schools registered with the Islamic Development Malaysia Department (Jakim).
RM1.3bil to upgrade dilapidated schools
Nearly RM1.3 billion will be allocated to upgrade 682 dilapidated schools, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.
Anwar also announced that voluntary cash contributions from parents, alumni and the community to the School Public Contributions Fund would qualify for tax deductions of up to 10% of aggregate income.
The government has set aside RM1 billion for Early Schooling Assistance, raising the amount from RM150 to RM200 per student. The measure is expected to benefit 5.3 million students.
“This means a family with four children will receive RM800 to prepare for the 2027 school session,” Anwar said when tabling Budget 2027 on Friday (Oct 9).
Food aid and student allowances
The government has also allocated RM870 million for the Supplementary Food Programme, which serves more than 800,000 pupils.
For the first time, Form Six students will receive a cost-of-living allowance of RM2,500, matching the amount given to matriculation students. The measure is expected to benefit 90,000 Form Six students.
The monthly allowance for students with special educational needs has been increased from RM150 to RM200, benefiting 150,000 students, including those with autism.
The monthly teaching incentive for special education teachers has also been raised from RM250 to RM300, benefiting 20,000 teachers.
More support for autistic children
Two Permata Kurnia centres will be built in Melaka and Pahang to provide specialised education, support and training for autistic children.
More than 130 new Tunas Istimewa kindergarten classes will also be opened in rural areas nationwide to provide early intervention and guidance for autistic children from low-income families.
