SIMPANG RENGGAM: There will be no budget cut for the Education Ministry next year, says Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.

He said the ministry had submitted its request to the Finance Ministry, and the financial allocation it expected to receive would be utilised for upgrading dilapidated schools and strengthening the teaching of technical and vocational education (TVET) among other things.

"Sabah and Sarawak have the highest number of dilipidated schools in the country," said Dr Maszlee at the launch of the free bus service, Bas Harapan Johor, from Simpang Renggam to Renggam.

Dr Maszlee said there would also be special hardship allowance for teachers in Selangor and Johor to solve the shortage of teachers in the two states.

He said schools in Johor and Selangor were facing a shortage of teachers because out-of-towners were not keen to teach there.

"Many cite high living cost as the reason for not wanting to teach in Johor and Selangor," he added.