Additional funding for schools to prepare Covid-19 protective equipment should be included in Budget 2022



With the reopening of schools, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) should increase allocations to the Ministry of Education (MoE) for Covid-19 protective equipment in the upcoming Budget 2022, so that schools will be able to purchase all necessary equipment to keep the coronavirus at bay. The items include disinfectants, Covid-19 self-test kits, and others. As society will have to co-exist with Covid-19 for a long time, protective equipment and supplies will undoubtedly incur a heavy expenditure unto the schools, parents and especially those belonging to the B40 category and destitute families.

As MoE has announced details of students returning to school in batches, schools must be well prepared and thoroughly geared with SOPs to curtail Covid-19 before they reopen. The MoF should therefore provide additional funds for schools to prepare Covid-19 protective equipment to reduce the burden on schools and parents, besides to also be able to cope with exigencies.

Presently, MoE is only responsible for the detection of Covid-19 among students who display suspected symptoms. However in the new normal, Covid-19 self-test kits have become a necessity and an inevitable expense which schools and parents must shoulder. Thus, it is reasonable and timely for the government to include these additional items for next year’s Budget.

As everyone is responsible in stemming this infectious disease be they the school authorities, parents, or students, stringent adherence to the SOPs is required at all times. If a teacher or parent discovers a child is unwell, keeping the child at home is feasible to prevent the growth of school clusters ..

Wong Siew Mun
MCA Spokesperson

-MCA Online-