Budget Fails to Provide Adequate Support for English Language Proficiency
PETALING JAYA: Two parents’ groups have raised concerns over the lack of concrete initiatives in the 2025 budget to strengthen students’ mastery of the English language.
Parents Warily Receive Budget
Noor Azimah Rahim, chairman of the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE), expressed disappointment over the lack of significant allocations to enhance students’ English proficiency, despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stressing the importance of the language. Azimah also questioned the lack of allocation for strengthening the Dual Language Programme (DLP).
Government’s Initiative for Lower-Income Families
However, Azimah welcomed the government’s initiatives to reduce education costs for lower-income families through the increased allocation of the supplementary food programme and early schooling aid. The government has announced that nearly RM800 million in early schooling aid will be allocated for all 5.2 million students from Year 1 to Form 5, regardless of their parents’ income, and the allocation for the supplementary food programme has been increased to RM870 million, up RM86 million from this year’s budget.
Concerns Over Lack of Support for Teachers
Mak Chee Kin, chairman of Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie), lamented that there was no specific allocation for learning English, despite Anwar stressing its importance. He emphasized the need for the government to take decisive steps to improve English proficiency among students, particularly with the direction in training more experts in artificial intelligence (AI).
Teachers’ Concerns
President of Ikatan Guru Muslim Malaysia (iGuru) Azizee Hasan expressed concern that the budget did not outline any special grants aimed at supporting teachers in enhancing their teaching standards. He noted that many teachers are using their own money to buy teaching and learning equipment, echoing a point made by the World Bank, which had suggested that Malaysia strengthen its teacher training programs and implement policies that are considerate towards teachers’ needs.
Education Ministry’s Allocation
The education ministry is the biggest recipient under the 2025 budget, with an allocation of RM64.1 billion.
Conclusion
The lack of concrete initiatives to strengthen students’ mastery of the English language and support for teachers is a concern for parents and education experts. While the government’s initiatives to reduce education costs for lower-income families are welcome, more needs to be done to ensure that students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the concerns surrounding the 2025 budget for education?
A: Parents and education experts are concerned that the budget does not provide sufficient support for measures to improve English language proficiency and strengthen the Dual Language Programme.
Q: What initiatives did the government announce for lower-income families?
A: The government announced increased allocation for the supplementary food programme and early schooling aid, which will benefit over 860,000 students next year.
Q: What are the concerns regarding the lack of support for teachers?
A: Teachers are using their own money to buy teaching and learning equipment, and there is a need for special grants to support their development and training.