KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM60.2 billion have been allocated to the Education Ministry next year, making it the largest recipient of funds in the 2019 Budget.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng also said RM2.9 billion would be spent on food, text books and cash assistance for the poor.
"A total of RM652 million be used to upgrade and maintain all schools nationwide, compared to RM615 million this year," he said when tabling the 2019 Budget today.
Lim also said a total of RM100 million will be allocated to rebuild all dilapidated schools nationwide.
"RM206 million willl be allocated to develop and prepare training programmes at polytechnics and community colleges.
The government, he said, would set up a Technical Vocational Education and Training fund to create a more competitive environment as well as training programmes to fulfil the industry's needs.
"A total of RM30 million has been allocated to this fund. Another RM20 million allocation will be used to increase the competency among the youth via the TVET Bootcampt Programme."
Private higher learning institutions, he said, would receive RM400 million to fund their respective research and development programmes.
"Student loans and scholarships worth RM3.8 billion have been allocated, out of which RM2 billion will be allocated to Bumiputera students sponsored by MARA."
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