School heads must be honest with education aid

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry will only appoint school heads who have integrity and are trustworthy to ensure that  all government aid for pupils, including the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) are properly managed.

Its minister Dr Maszlee Malik said this is so that those who hold the posts perform their duties well, including distributing the aids.

He said the monitoring process had been introduced at the District Education Offices and State Education Departments to make sure that schools abide by the Financial Circular and RMT Management Guide Book provided by the ministry

He said future school administrators have also been given an introduction to the management of the RMT programme in the National Professional Qualification for Educational Leaders (NQPEL) at Institut Aminuddin Baki.

“This is to ensure that they get adequate training in managing the RMT,” he said in reply to a question from ​​​​​​​Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (BN-Sabak Bernam) at the Dewan Rakyat on the measures taken by the government to make sure the funds given to schools for the RMT are properly managed.

Replying to a supplementary question from ​​​​​​​Natrah Ismail (PH-Sekijang) on the poor quality of food provided to school children under the RMT, Maszlee said the ministry would not compromise in this.

“We will look at every case where the food operator in the RMT who did not ensure food quality will be issued a warning, and if the situation persists, strict action will be imposed,” he said.

-- BERNAMA