ALL state and district education directors have been instructed to prioritise the use of allocated funds to maintain fans in schools due to the hot weather, Education director-general Pkharuddin Ghazali said.

He said the directive was issued in an engagement session with the education directors on May 3 to ensure that the facilities were in good condition.

“We at the Education Ministry always distribute special funds for the maintenance of school facilities at the state and district levels to ensure that equipment such as fans are functioning properly.

“Our message to the education directors is that they should spend the appropriate funds on maintenance as soon as possible,” he said at a press conference after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Education Ministry and Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR).

Pkharuddin said the directive was in line with the ministry’s instruction to temporarily suspend all outdoor activities involving students, teachers and lecturers in light of the hot weather the country is experiencing.

Media outlets reported today that the hot weather has prompted parents to buy electric mini-fans for their children to keep them comfortable while at school.

On the strategic collaboration on education funding between the Education Ministry’s matriculation programme and YBR, he said YBR has agreed to provide scholarships worth RM4.7 million to 100 outstanding students from B40 (lower-income) and asnaf (tithe recipients) students graduating from the programme for the 2022-2025 period.

“This funding will provide outstanding students of the programme with the opportunity to enjoy having their tuition fees and living expenses for undergraduate studies at public and private institutions in the country covered,” he said. – Bernama, May 8, 2023.