KUALA LUMPUR – The Higher Education Ministry (MoHE) received lesser allocations for granting scholarships and as such will focus its efforts on sponsoring local courses in Malaysia that may benefit more students, its minister said today.
While debating Budget 2022 at the committee level, Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong-BN) explained that her ministry will receive RM11.5 million less for scholarships in 2022 compared to the RM161.5 million budget for this year.
The lawmaker added that this has prompted her ministry to focus on awarding scholarships to students that study locally.
However, MoHE will continue to award scholarships for “high-impact” courses abroad.
“The cost for sponsoring local courses is much lower and we can benefit more students by sending less abroad.
“This would balance out the situation where we have fewer allocations this year,” Noraini said.
She also explained that MoHE has also engaged with private higher institutions of learning to reduce financial burdens faced by students.
Among them, she said, is a moratorium on fee increments from June 1, 2020 to December 31 this year.
“We have plans to extend this moratorium and have urged private institutions to consider giving discounts out of concern for students,” Noraini added.
As for public institutions, the Parit Sulong MP reiterated that there is a 20% fee reduction for the 2021/2022 session that encompasses all payments required to be made by students such as registration, library, and hostel fees among other things. – The Vibes, December 13, 2021
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