KUALA LUMPUR: The government's austerity measures in drafting the 2027 Budget will not affect the Ministry of Education's (MOE) main plans, especially in the scope of recruiting new teachers and building additional classrooms, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. He also assured that the austerity measures would not disrupt beneficiaries of the Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) program, which is considered important for students' nutritional intake. Apart from that, Fadhlina said repairs to dilapidated schools and building maintenance would continue as usual. "We do not want the people to feel worried and upset because although the call for austerity is a very important and critical call at this time, I would like to assure you that it will not interfere or interfere in a context closely related to priorities at the ministerial level," he said. He said this to reporters after opening the International Symposium on Libraries, Translation and Artificial Intelligence (LiTr.AI) 2026 at Wisma Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), here today. Fadhlina said the Ministry of Education would also ensure that any austerity measures would not affect the launch of the new curriculum next year, as well as the entry of six-year-old children into year one. Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hinted that the 2027 Budget would be drafted with more austerity measures following global economic pressures that affected the country's fiscal position, including involving the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said global geopolitical uncertainties, including the chain of tensions following the attack by the United States and its ally Israel on Iran, were having an impact on the global economy, thus demanding more prudent government spending. Meanwhile, regarding the provision of RM100 book vouchers for secondary school students under the Ministry of Education and students of public higher education institutions (IPTA), which was announced by the Prime Minister when opening the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2026 last Friday, Fadhlina said it would begin to be distributed as soon as school sessions reopened. -- BERNAMA

Budget 2027: Savings measures will not affect MOE’s main plans – Fadhlina

KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s austerity measures in drafting the 2027 Budget will not affect the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) main plans, especially in the scope of recruiting new teachers and building additional classrooms, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

He also assured that the austerity measures would not disrupt beneficiaries of the Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) program, which is considered important for students’ nutritional intake.

Apart from that, Fadhlina said repairs to dilapidated schools and building maintenance would continue as usual.

“We do not want the people to feel worried and upset because although the call for austerity is a very important and critical call at this time, I would like to assure you that it will not interfere or interfere in a context closely related to priorities at the ministerial level,” he said.

He said this to reporters after opening the International Symposium on Libraries, Translation and Artificial Intelligence (LiTr.AI) 2026 at Wisma Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), here today.

Fadhlina said the Ministry of Education would also ensure that any austerity measures would not affect the launch of the new curriculum next year, as well as the entry of six-year-old children into year one.

Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hinted that the 2027 Budget would be drafted with more austerity measures following global economic pressures that affected the country’s fiscal position, including involving the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said global geopolitical uncertainties, including the chain of tensions following the attack by the United States and its ally Israel on Iran, were having an impact on the global economy, thus demanding more prudent government spending.

Meanwhile, regarding the provision of RM100 book vouchers for secondary school students under the Ministry of Education and students of public higher education institutions (IPTA), which was announced by the Prime Minister when opening the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2026 last Friday, Fadhlina said it would begin to be distributed as soon as school sessions reopened.

— BERNAMA

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