Budget 2023: Education Ministry receives the highest allocation, a whopping RM55.2 billion

KUALA LUMPUR - The Education Ministry, as usual, gets the lion's share of the budget with RM55.2 billion compared to last year's RM52.6 billion.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said a total of RM2.3 billion will be provided to ensure the best infrastructure and learning facilities in all schools for students.

"This covers building and infrastructure upgrades at 380 poor schools, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, through a special procurement method for urgency," he said when announcing the Budget 2023 at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Anwar said the education budget also involves maintenance work on facilities in all types of schools, such as toilet repairs, school wiring and drainage, and replacing furniture and outdated dormitory and classroom equipment.

Furthermore, schools with special needs students will be outfitted with disabled-friendly facilities.

"The government will also build an open hall to provide comfort for these children to gather.

"A total of seven new schools will be built at a cost of RM560 million, including SK Paya Dusun in Terengganu, SMK Denai Alam in Selangor, SMK Nabalu in Sabah, and SMK Dudong in Sarawak," he added.