Thursday July 8, 2010
New incentives for those pursuing higher education
By RICHARD LIM
educate@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Disabled persons pursuing higher education full-time at local institutions of higher learning – both public and private – will receive up to RM5,000 a year or RM20,000 for the entire duration of their course.
Announcing the new policy here yesterday, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the sum covers tuition fees as well as a monthly allowance of RM300.
He said any balance of the money cannot be carried forward.
For long-distance learners and part-time students, however, the policy only applies to the tuition fees. Disabled students already receiving scholarships are only eligible for the allowance .
Before the revision, disabled students at higher education institutions received only the RM300 allowance each month.
Under the new policy, disabled students reading certificate courses are eligible for aid over a two-year period while those pursuing diplomas and degrees will receive it over three and four years respectively.
Master programme students will receive aid for two years while PhD students will be covered over a four-year period
“Financial aid will be provided to all disabled students, including those reading certificate and diploma courses at polytechnics and community colleges,” Mohamed Khaled told a press conference at Universiti Malaya’s seventh residential college here.
Blind student Lim Tien Hong, 26, who is pursuing a Master’s in Applied Economics at UM, said the revision was timely.
“I am happy and thankful to the Government, as the greater provision allows disabled students to pursue post-graduate studies.
“All that is left now is implementation. Instead of requiring disabled students to apply for the aid package, the process could be automated the moment they enrol at university,” he said.
