It is indeed a positive move to award bursaries to the SPM 9A+ achievers. Obviously, those in the 7,8 and 9As range will be disappointed with the decision. For the bumiputra\/Malay students, they are lucky as MARA’s convertible loan’s minimum requirements are 5A- (diploma at Mara institutions), minimum 6A- to 8A- for local degree (including pre-u) and 7A- to 9A- for overseas degree\u00a0\u00a0(including pre-u). So where does it leave the others? STPM would an option (being revamped into modular semester based examination would make it more attractive). \u00a0For Indians, the PM pledged extra 100o places in matriculation (of which some will be taken by the Bursary recipients). \u00a0Others will opt for foundation or diploma programs in IPTS, or if lucky, chosen to enter foundation (selected IPTA), diploma (IPTA) and politeknik. The less than average results will take the skills-based training route, and others will enter the workforce. That’s about it.<\/p>\n
Interesting thing about the Bursary is that it is awarded on merit. So if the student scores 3.50 CGPA and above, and able to secure place in the listed universities, his\/her education will be funded.<\/p>\n
PIDN (Program Ijazah Dalam Negara – local degree scholarship) which offers 10,300 places is based on merit (so far), however, what many seem to miss is that PILN (Program Ijazah Luar Negara – overseas degree scholarship)\u00a0is not based on merit alone. \u00a0Even though the stipulated requirements are minimum CGPA 3.50 at pre-u level for PILN, there’s four category if award – scholastic achievement (academic) (20%), racial composition (60%), East Malaysia bumiputera (10%), and socially disadvantaged (10%). Of the 60% based on race, Indian students allocated 7%. Interestingly, the number of PILN scholarship to be awarded in 2014 is not mentioned. \u00a0Also not clear if the requirement of CGPA 3.50 will be relaxed under the related categories, or the student must get CGPA 3.50 regardless of which category he\/she is applying under. The other catch is that, even though you manage to wriggle your way into getting a JPA overseas degree scholarship, you still need to secure a place in the listed universities.<\/p>\n
There’s also a special program for engineering courses in Germany, Korea, Japan and France for 200 SPM leavers. Similar to PILN, it is also not based purely on merit but the four categories mentioned about, and with the same percentage –\u00a0scholastic achievement (academic) (20%), racial composition (60%), East Malaysia bumiputera (10%), and socially disadvantaged (10%). The minimum requirement is either 7A- and 2B+ or 9A-. Again question arises if the requirement will be relaxed to accommodate the categories.<\/p>\n
Whatever it is, we hope for a day where quotas are given on a more rational, needs basis such as socially disadvantaged \u00a0or economic status instead of artificial requirements.<\/p>\n
If you want to know more about the scholarship, refer the following websites:<\/p>\n
esilav2.jpa.gov.my<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/apps.moe.gov.my\/bursaryspm2011\/<\/a><\/p>\n