KUCHING: A total of RM1.9 billion has been allocated to upgrade and maintain dilapidated schools throughout the country under Budget 2024.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said of the total, RM930 million would be used to upgrade 450 dilapidated schools including 185 in Sarawak and 155 in Sabah.
Apart from that, he said, RM2.5 billion had been allocated to build 26 new secondary schools, including SMK Baie, Bintulu, Sarawak; SMK Laya-laya, Tuaran Sabah; SMK Seri Melati, Kuantan, Pahang; SMK Bandar Universiti, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak; SMK Binjai, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, among others.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister said this when tabling Budget 2024 under the theme “Madani Economy: Empowering the People” in Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
He also announced RM10 million to set up three more temporary shelters known as Baitul Mahabbah for foreign children who had been detained.
One of the shelters would be in Sarawak while two shelters would be in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.
Baitul Mahabbah is an initiative by the Home Ministry (KDN), under the supervision of the Immigration Department, to ensure the safety of children placed in immigration detention centres while waiting for the documentation process by their respective embassies to be completed.
Meanwhile, early childhood education will continue to be given attention next year; RM586 million has been allocated to the Community Development Department (KEMAS).
Anwar said RM31 million would be allocated for the building of 10 new nurseries in Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and Johor, while RM20 million would be provided to upgrade kindergartens and premises under KEMAS.
“Next year, we will also build 26 new preschools for our children, including those in Simunjan, Sarawak; Kuantan in Pahang as well as in Melaka,” he added.
