The Education Ministry will receive nearly RM69 billion under Budget 2027, up from RM66.2 billion this year, retaining its position as the recipient of the government’s largest ministry allocation.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the funding would support school maintenance, upgrades to dilapidated facilities and additional classrooms to accommodate rising enrolment.
The government expects nearly 500,000 pupils to enter Year One next year, including more than 70,000 children aged six. To accommodate the increase, 3,500 additional classrooms are expected to be completed by the end of this year through the Industrialised Building System.
Nearly RM1.3 billion has also been allocated to upgrade 682 dilapidated schools, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.
The government will double its allocation for the maintenance and repair of all types of schools to RM2 billion under Budget 2027, up from RM1 billion this year.
The prime minister said the allocation for national schools would rise to RM900 million, while Chinese national-type schools would receive RM100 million and Tamil national-type schools RM50 million.
The allocation for registered people’s religious schools, tahfiz institutions and pondok schools under the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) will increase to RM200 million. The funding scope will also be expanded to cover operating assistance.
Anwar said Tamil national-type schools required urgent attention due to the poor condition of some school facilities, despite having relatively smaller student populations.
The increased allocation comes as the Education Ministry’s overall budget rises to nearly RM69 billion in 2027, from RM66.2 billion this year.
Cash contributions to school public donation funds will qualify for tax deductions of up to 10% of aggregate income under Budget 2027.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government would improve the School Public Donation Fund to allow voluntary contributions from parents, alumni and the wider community to be used for school operations, facility repairs, equipment purchases and student programmes.
The measure aims to encourage greater public participation in improving the quality of school environments.
The announcement forms part of wider education measures under Budget 2027, which include doubling the allocation for school maintenance and repairs to RM2 billion.
