KUALA LUMPUR: The substantial allocation of the 2024 Budget for the education sector must be utilised to balance the planning of education development for urban and rural areas.
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Warisan- Semporna) said despite big allocations given every year, the development of education in Sabah and Sarawak was still limited.
"I am pleased to hear that there is an allocation of RM58.7 billion for education and we welcome this as a step towards nurturing human capital in our country that is capable of driving the economic growth and administering the nation effectively.
"However, I hope that this substantial financial allocation is directed to the sectors that need it most. For example, we see many announcements of primary and secondary school development work in the Peninsula.
"What about Sabah, then? The ones I have seen (in Sabah) are still in need of proper facilities as most of the schools there are dilapidated, with wooden structures, especially in Kota Belud," he said during his debate for the 2024 Supply Bill in Dewan Rakyat, today.
The Parti Warisan (Warisan) president said Sabah is experiencing limited education access, with only one public higher learning institution in the state.
He added that while there were many private higher learning institutions there, the government also faced difficulties in funding the students.
"The education sector is one of the problems we face, not only in terms of universities but also in terms of funding to sponsor students from rural areas, especially from Sabah as there is only one (public) university which is Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
"There are private ones, but they are expensive. Hence, we have to send students all the way to Sarawak.
"The funding is significant but there are limitations for the education sector in Sabah, so I hope the system can be improved."
Meanwhile, Shafie also hoped the government would emphasise on providing electricity in the areas that do not have access to it.
"We provide tablets and computers for our children, but there is no electricity and if there is no electricity, there is no accessibility.
"Hence, I hope that if we aim to balance development in our country between urban and rural areas, the education sector should be one of the primary focuses."