He said this was another piece of bad news in a series of spending cuts for education in Malaysia.

He said previously the funds for local public universities were also cut, resulting in contracts of experienced professors not being extended.

“The education ministry’s move to abolish the allowances has been criticised by many parties.

“The government should give priority to education because it involves long-term investment in the future of the country.

“The budget for education should not be cut as it will affect the development of human capital,” the PPBM president said in a statement today.

Muhyiddin said when he was the education minister, the ministry planned to make teaching a career choice.

This was why those undergoing the undergraduate degree in education (PISMP) were given monthly living allowances.

“In principle, in any training programme, the employer must bear the entire cost of training.”

Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon had said last week that current teacher trainees would continue to receive the RM430 monthly living expense allowance and travel allowance, not exceeding RM500 per year, until they graduate.

He said those affected would be trainee teachers starting the course in June next year. They will have to apply for loans.

The total cost of the four-year training is RM27,831, Chong said.

Muhyiddin said asking these PISMP trainees to apply for a National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan was not the solution.

“As we know, PTPTN also faces constraints in its ability to provide loans to all students.

“What I am worried about is that if PISMP students fail to get a PTPTN loan, they may withdraw from the teachers’ training.

“This will result in a shortage of teachers for certain subjects and other teachers may be forced to shoulder this extra burden. The quality of education will then suffer.”