KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) has urged the Education Ministry to empower schools to manage their own finances, especially on small maintenance.
Its president, Kamarozaman Abd Razak said the move was aimed at enabling immediate maintenance steps to be carried out without having to go through a lengthy and time-consuming process.
He said the government's move to provide tax deduction to government schools and higher learning institutions under the ministry, was timely to strengthen the existing financial resources.
"For example, in the event of minor damage involving a leaking pipe in the school, we don't have to seek assistance from the District Education Office, unless it is for large maintenance or solely relying on donations from Parents and Teachers Association.
"NUTP fully supports the government's efforts to introduce maintenance funds at schools as this will boost the interest of individuals and corporate organisations to contribute funds, thereby helping to reduce the expenses of various programmes at schools," he said.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, through the 2019 Budget, also announced an allocation of RM100 million for the reconstruction of poor schools nationwide.
In addition, RM50 million and RM25 million respectively have been allocated to Tahfiz schools and traditional religious schools for upgrading and maintenance.
The Malaysian National School Principal Council president, Sabuddin Sani said the allocation of the funds was timely in providing a new image to the religious schools in the country.
"It is time that the Tahfiz schools and traditional religious schools are fully assisted by the government to ensure that every student has access to the best education facilities.
"If these schools are officially registered with the ministry, it will indirectly guarantee the safety and comfort of the students studying in these schools," he said.
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