Let’s look at this particular case. The student has shown effort and perseverance to pursue studies in her field of interest. Unfortunately, she’s studying in an university which is not on MMC’s approved list, so can’t get any scholarship or loan from JPA.  She has to pass an exam once back before able to practice. The reason given for choosing the university is due to cheap cost, but so far she has spent RM310,000 on her studies. Now she needs another RM40,000 to finish her studies.

Its easy to say that she should have planned her finances, but being a 7 years program, I’m not sure if the plans are able to withstand changes on global level. Maybe some unforeseen circumstances made her to go to loan sharks and now seeking aid from all and sundry.

She can consider working in other countries (since UK rules has changed) or perhaps postpone a semester to work.

She can’t apply PTPTN  since PTPTN is for local studies only, so surely got rejected. JPA loan is hard to get, plus she’s enrolled in a non-recognised university.

There’s no mention of her SPM or STPM results, so I can’t comment on her non-acceptance into IPTAs or JPA scholarship.

Im’ sure there are plenty of cases like this, as, on average I get once such news about every other month so far this year.

MIC has promised to look into her case, which is asking her to apply MIED loan (isn’t application closed at the moment? Or do they provide RM40k because I think the average amount per loan is less than 10k). Refer to 2011 MIED loan awards, its RM617,518 for 72 medical students (average of RM8576/student).

In the meantime, readers’ comment in FMT prompted the media to provide her bank account number for those interested to donate. Refer: Syamala Devi a/p Mani (Maybank acc: 112278032141) .

MIC has promised to look into M Syamala Devi’s case, with party president G Palanivel promising urgent action.

Yesterday, FMT reported that the final year medical student needed RM40,000 to complete her studies in a university in Romania.

This morning, Syamala, 28, met with Palanivel at the MIC headquarters here.

Speaking to FMT after the meeting, Syamala said Palanivel had asked her to apply for a loan with MIC’s education arm, Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED).

“I have to be back in Romania before the end of this month. If I fail to get the money then I have to forget my dream of becoming a doctor,” she added.

After completing Form Six, the eldest of five siblings, who lost her father at the age of eight, had applied in vain for a place to do medicine in some 20 local universities.

She also applied for numerous scholarships and loans but was turned down.

Refusing to give up, Syamala worked in a courier service agency and provided home tuition to save up enough money to pursue her ambition.

She also borrowed RM20,000 from a loan shark, and is forced to pay RM2,000 every month in interest alone. Her brother and sister were helping her with this.

During her semester breaks, Syamala would work in the UK and when the semester commenced, she earned a small income by cooking and selling food to the Malaysian students in her university.

However, the UK goverment had since barred students from foreign universities from working there.

The student also revealed that she was aware that the medical university in Romania was not recognised by the Malaysian government.

However, Syamala added that she had no choice because that was the cheapest place to pursue a medical degree.

The student, who had since forked out RM310,000 for the past six years, said she would need to sit for another examination in Malaysia upon her graduation in order to practice here.

Since her plight was highlighted, FMT received numerous calls from readers wanting to help her.

Those wishing to financially aid Syamala could channel their donations to: Syamala Devi a/p Mani (Maybank acc: 112278032141)

source:  http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/22/mic-to-look-into-med-students-plight/

This is the first news:

M Syamala Devi’s dream is to become a doctor. But the 28-year-old final year medical student has returned home from Romania because she cannot afford to continue her education.

To make matters worse, she also took RM20,000 from a loan shark to finance her studies and is forced to pay RM2,000 in interest every month.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Human Rights Party (HRP) here, the sixth-year student with the University of Medical Pharmacy of GRT Popa said she needs another RM40,000 to complete her degree.

“My father was a former auxiliary policeman and he died when I was eight. Look at my family background, that is why I chose to study in Romania because the fees is cheaper there,” she said.

Syamala said after completing her STPM examination, she had applied in vain for a place to do medicine in 20 local universities.

She also applied for scores of scholarships and education loans, including the Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship and Higher Education Loan Fund (PTPTN), but was rejected.

Seeking government help

Following this, she worked with a courier service agency for two years and provided home tuition in order to save enough money to pursue her dream.

Apart from taking money from a loan shark, she also used to work in the UK during her summer holidays.

When the semester commences, Syamala said she used to earn a small income by cooking and selling food to some 30 Malaysian students at her university to cover her day-to-day expenses.

However, the UK implemented a new rule prohibiting students from other countries from working there and this dealt a blow to Syamala’s ambition.

“The total cost of my education is RM350,000. Until today, I have spent nearly RM310,000, money which I raised myself,” she said, adding that her brother and sister were also helping her to settle the loan shark’s interest.

“I am pleading to the government to help me. Please grant me a RM40,000 loan to finish my studies,” she said, adding that she enrolled in that particular Romanian university although it is not recognised by the Malaysian government because she had no choice.

“This was the cheapest place to study medicine and upon graduation I will have to sit for another examination in Malaysia to allow me to practice here,” she said.

Meanwhile, HRP education bureau head G Ganeson asked the government if it was wrong for a poor Indian to dream of becoming a doctor.

He said the government must immediately grant Syamala the loan so that she could complete her studies.

source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/21/please-help-me-become-a-doctor/