Teacher Empowerment Should Be Among Priorities In Budget 2026 - Expert

By Nur Elysa Amirah Suhaimi

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The empowerment of teachers through training aligned with current educational demands, particularly in information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI), must be a central focus in Malaysia’s upcoming Budget 2026, scheduled for tabling on Oct 10.

As such, Dr Anuar Ahmad, an education expert from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said it is important to have dedicated funding for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes to enhance the nation’s education system.

“The ability of children to master knowledge heavily depends on the quality of teachers. To ensure better education, we need to provide conducive and effective learning opportunities, so the national Budget 2026 must prioritise empowering educators,” he told Bernama when contacted.

Dr Anuar also highlighted the urgent need to upgrade teachers’ skills to keep pace with digital-based learning aligned with technological advancements, including AI, to ensure Malaysia’s education system remains globally competitive.

“Malaysia has approximately 450,000 teachers across various levels, many of whom received their foundational training 10 to 30 years ago. They need retraining in IT, AI, and digital skills to deliver more relevant and effective teaching.

“While the number of teachers may be high, the key question is how capable they are in meeting today’s educational demands. Therefore, the Budget should allocate special funds for retraining and skill enhancement programmes,” he said.

As the UKM Institute for Development and Inclusive Advancement Malaysia (MINDA UKM) deputy director, Dr Anuar stressed the importance of instilling a STEM culture starting from primary school to attract more students to science and mathematics, which are currently experiencing declining interest.

“Similarly, AI is a new frontier, and some schools are still not fully prepared. We hope these exposures can be provided to students through targeted budget allocations,” he noted.

Dr Anuar also called for an increase in the number of teachers through new appointments and adequate salary provisions, noting the ongoing shortage in certain subject areas.

“We aim for a ratio of one teacher per 25 students in every classroom. With increased budget, class sizes can be reduced, allowing teachers to focus and deliver more effective teaching,” he said.

To create a more comfortable learning environment, he recommended greater budget allocations for improving school infrastructure, including building new schools in strategic locations.

“The number of classrooms in existing schools must also be increased. In addition, phased installation of CCTV cameras is crucial to ensure student safety, thereby boosting parental confidence in schools,” he said.

Dr Anuar further urged that the wellbeing of students from the B40 income group be addressed through the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) and school health services to ensure their health, especially at the primary school level.

“RMT and health services are vital to enable more students from B40 and M40 families, especially those with many children, to benefit and maintain better health,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon expressed optimism that the government will continue providing the Early Schooling Aid (BAP), especially as the new school session often coincides with the Aidilfitri celebration.

“We (NUTP) remain positive that the Ministry of Finance will ensure the Ministry of Education receives the highest allocation in Budget 2026,” he said in a statement to Bernama.

-- BERNAMA