The Deputy Prime Minister said these students could still apply for it, in view of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s assurance that all students who scored 9A+ or better would be granted PSD scholarships for local or overseas studies irrespective of race.
“They can come forward and we will take them into account,” he told reporters yesterday after opening the Ampang Umno division meeting here.
Najib, who made the announcement on Saturday, had described the move as “historical”.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said it showed that the Government had no qualms rewarding students based on meritocracy, adding that it would not be a problem to source for the additional funding.
“The Prime Minister’s statement is a happy one for all sides,” he said, adding that a big portion of those in the list announced by the PSD had already received their scholarship.
The Government had previously said that it might withdraw PSD scholarships for overseas studies gradually. That plan drew criticism from certain quarters.
All top scorers to get PSD grants
KUALA LUMPUR: All students who score 9A+ or more will now receive Public Service Department scholarship regardless of their race, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.“We have achieved one thing that we have never done in history. Every student who scores 9A+, irrespective of his or her ethnic background, will get a scholarship from the department.
“It doesn’t matter if they are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban or others. If they score 9A+, they will get the scholarship whether for local or overseas studies.
“This is to show that 1Malaysia is not just a slogan,” he said when opening the MIC annual general assembly at Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.
His announcement received thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the hundreds of MIC delegates attending the assembly.
Others present included MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon
Najib also said 2,304 of 2,499 Indian students who qualified for entry into public universities were given places. A total of 4,541 Indian students applied to enter public universities this year.
“This is a clear manifestation of the Government’s effort to help the Indian community,” he said.
Students are now graded according to A+, A, A-, B+, B, C+, C, D, E and G. Previously, the grades were from 1A to 9G.
In March, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom explained that the highest possible grade under this system was an A+ which indicates a score of more than 90% in a subject.
A total of 214 students from government schools and another 41 students, who were either from private schools or private candidates, obtained A+ in all subjects taken.
A total of 1,500 scholarships have been awarded to top SPM scorers under the PSD’s Overseas Degree Programme to pursue their studies at universities abroad this year.
| MCA vice-president: 9A+ grants in line with 1Malaysia | ||||||
| ||||||
| KUALA LUMPUR: The announcement that Public Service Department scholarships will be awarded to all students who score 9A+ or higher regardless of their race is in line with the 1Malaysia concept, said MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. She said such a move was unprecedented in the country?s history and a positive move forward for all Malaysians. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced, during the MIC general assembly on Saturday that these succesful students would receive PSD scholarships to pursue their studies locally or overseas, regardless of their race. -The Star/Asia News Network | ||||||
No comments:
Post a Comment