Welcoming the measures announced as a sign of progress, PAGE chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said lasting change would now depend on whether the government could deliver on its promises to strengthen rural facilities and teacher support.
“These are necessary and helpful efforts, and we will see improvements with consistent follow-through.
“While they may not fully resolve the long-standing facility and overcrowding issues in rural and semi-rural schools in the short term, stronger resourcing, quicker implementation, and tighter oversight will eventually bring sustained improvements,” she told FMT.
Unveiling the budget last Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government was allocating RM66.2 billion to the education ministry next year, up from RM64.1 billion in 2025.
Nearly RM2 billion will be used to upgrade more than 520 dilapidated schools, while RM115 million has been set aside for teacher training tied to the 2027 curriculum and STEM education.
Noor Azimah called the training allocation a “positive and necessary step” in preparing teachers for the new curriculum, aimed at strengthening literacy and numeracy and reducing classroom content.
However, she warned that it might not be enough to support and retain teachers in under-resourced areas.
“Pair the training with more incentives, infrastructure support, housing, community integration and clearer career pathways, then you may be able to keep teachers where they’re most needed,” she said.
The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) also welcomed the RM115 million allocation for teacher training, and urged the ministry to ensure that it is used effectively so that teachers fully understand the new curriculum.
NUTP said parent engagement sessions should be held next to build trust and understanding of the curriculum rollout.
“Budget 2026 is a step in the right direction, but real progress will depend on consistent execution, transparency, and fair support for teachers,” it said in a statement.
Noor Azimah said the next phase of reform should focus on empowering schools in decision-making, and trusting teachers to lead from the ground up.
“Empower teachers and principals, trust schools with more autonomy, and give parents a stronger voice,” she said.