The Education Ministry was today asked in the Dewan Rakyat to explain why Malaysians tend to shun national schools.

Firdaus Harun (BN-Rembau) said these schools, especially at the primary level, are the catalyst to achieve racial harmony and unity for younger generations.

Answering the question, the ministry's parliamentary secretary P Komala Devi (BN-Kapar) said the ministry is aware of the problem.

"The Education Ministry is aware and realises the importance of national schools, especially the primary ones, as an important phase in inducing racial unity and integration," she said.

She said the ministry has strived to make national schools the ultimate choice for education and one strategy was by embodying the Guidelines to Strengthen National Schools in the Central Planning on Education Development (PIPP) 2006-2010.

Komala said the ministry has constantly conducted research to strengthen the appeal of national schools and as a result of the research, it has introduced Chinese and Tamil language education in national schools, increased the professionalism of teachers and ensured that the infrastructures are adequate.

Apart from this, she claimed that national schools are doing well in attracting non-Malay students as well.

Budget allocation

On a related matter, Komala, when answering a question, revealed that national schools have top priority when it comes to budget allocation.

She said all schools (national, Tamil, Chinese and mission schools) were given RM32.5 billion from the year 2001 up to 2006 and national schools received a total of RM23.3 billion followed by RM5.2 billion for Chinese schools, RM 2.1 billion for Tamil schools and RM1.9 billion for mission schools.

Making clarifications on questions surrounding financial aid to Tamil, Chinese and mission schools, she said the ministry does allocate financial aid to the schools for maintenance and reparation but added that allocations depend on the applications made by the schools.

"Financial aid is readily available to elevate the schools from their cash burden and additional amounts are made available especially for schools facing infrastructure deterioration," she said.

According to Komala, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, RM100 million was given to the Education Ministry as allocation for financial aid to Malaysian schools.