BY LIZAWATI MADFA
The State Government did not keep quiet when the 2017 Federal Budget had reduced the allocation for higher learning sector from RM13.38 billion in 2016 to RM12.13 billion.
In the 2017 Budget, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali had quickly announced a RM10 million to fund education for Selangor-born students through the Peduli Siswa Special Programme.
If offers a flexible study loan based on the final Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) achieved in the Higher Education Institution.
The offer included students in Malaysian International Islamic University (UIAM), Malaysian National University (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and the Mara University of Technology (UiTM) for Shah Alam, Puncak Alam and Puncak Perdana campuses.
Last April, the State Government’s delegation led by Mohamed Azmin have gone beyond borders to Morocco, Jordan and Egypt to present the Peduli Siswa contribution to Selangor students studying there.
In the special visit, 40 Selangor students who are studying in the Middle East received a contribution of RM3,000 each.
“We increased the amount from RM2,500 to RM3,000 to support students who are affected by the economic slump plus the budget cut by the Federal Government,” he said at the meeting with the students.
Repayment rate is determined by the students’ final CGPA.
Diploma and degree students who achieve a CGPA of 3.75 to 4.00 is totally exempted from repayment.
Those with CGPA of 3.50 to 3.74 only pay 50 percent of the loan while those with CGPA 3.20 to 3.49 pay 25 percent. Those with CGPA of 3.19 and below will have to pay the whole loan.
Medical degree students need to only pass their exams to be eligible for total exemption.
The first 2017 session was opened last February, while the second session was last August. Applicants can check their application status on the Tabung Kumpulan Wang Biasiswa Negeri Selangor’s official website.
