The Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced that school safety and anti-bullying initiatives will be among its top priorities in Budget 2026, which is set to be tabled on October 10 at the Dewan Rakyat.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry’s submissions for the upcoming budget are comprehensive, targeting not only student safety but also key areas such as the development of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), anti-bullying support programmes, digital and technology upgrades, preparations for Curriculum 2027, and a new education development plan.
“There are several important matters, including TVET, which we will focus on more specifically in the context of national priorities, needs and direction. Overall, our submissions for Budget 2026 are very comprehensive and aim to continue enhancing the quality of education in the country,” Fadhlina said.
Last year, the MoE was allocated RM64.1 billion. In line with strengthening safety in schools, Fadhlina revealed that more than 700 out of 10,000 schools nationwide have already undergone safety audits, with preliminary findings to be released soon.
The ministry has also directed the Inspectorate of Schools to conduct weekly safety audit reports, covering both schools and hostels.
Her remarks came during the launch of DMK 2025 (National Reading Decade), part of an ongoing effort from 2021 to 2030 to nurture a stronger reading culture among Malaysians. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) highlighted that DMK is a collaborative initiative involving ministries, NGOs, the private sector and community groups.
By 2030, the programme aims to raise the average number of books read by Malaysians from 15 to 50 titles per year.
Sources: Malay Mail, BERNAMA
