Kuala Lumpur:Issues related to education, such as student discipline, safety, teaching quality, and skills education empowerment, were prominently discussed at the conclusion of the first week of the policy-level debate on the Supply Bill 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) proposed the reinstatement of caning in schools to tackle discipline and bullying. He also suggested conducting regular psychological evaluations for teachers tasked with administering such punishments.

Several other Members of Parliament, including Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (PN-Tanah Merah), William Leong Jee Keen (PH-Selayang), and Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat), called for strengthening Form Six education as a viable pathway to university. They emphasized it should not be seen as merely a last resort for students.

Datuk Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri (GPS-Betong) advocated for the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to rural youth, particularly in Sarawak, aligning training programs with industry and job market needs. He stressed that skills training opportunities should be accessible to young people in rural areas as well, not just in big cities.

Datuk Muslimin Yahaya (PN-Sungai Besar) agreed on the expansion of TVET to rural areas, noting its importance for over 50,000 students annually who fail to obtain the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificate due to poor performance in Bahasa Melayu and History subjects.

Datuk Ali anak Biju (PN-Saratok) urged the Ministry of Education to expedite educational infrastructure development in rural Sarawak to ensure safe and quality learning facilities, especially in remote regions. He cited the delay in the Sekolah Kebangsaan Abang Leman project in Kabong as an example, advocating for stricter actions against contractors failing to meet project timelines to prevent such projects from becoming white elephants.