A DAP MP today criticised the Education Ministry (MOE) for being unable to provide answers on what happened to the balance RM7.98 mil which was supposed to be allocated to Tamil vernacular schools (SJKT).
“Under Budget 2021, RM800 mil was allocated to maintain schools and learning centres under MOE’s purview. On Nov 24 last year, the ministry said that RM29.98 mil of it is designated for SJKT.
“But I was surprised when the minister told me on Dec 15, at the Parliament, that SJKT only received RM22 mil to date. So, what happened to the rest of the funds?” Teo Nie Ching queried in a statement.
Hurling brickbats against Senior Minister (Education) Datuk Mohd Radzi Jidin and his two deputies, she urged the MOE to explain why they have failed to disburse the balance sum to SJKT.
Sideling SJKT?
During Pakatan Harapan’s tenure, Teo noted that SJKTs used to receive RM50 mil per year, and the current funding provided was a 40% drop from the earlier sum.
“Why can’t they just provide the balance monies to all Government funded SJKT schools? Bear in mind that SJKT administrators were already upset due to the 40% drop in funding,” the former deputy education minister stressed.
With that said, Teo remarked: “The failure of the Government to provide adequate allocation to SJKTs shows that the MOE is not really interested to help the schools, which doesn’t reflect the Malaysia Family spirit.” – Dec 20, 2021.
Pic credit: The Star
