Kota Kinabalu: The State Government through the Sabah Foundation Group (KYS) will give a one-off assistance this year worth RM10 million to bright SPM and STPM Sabahan students to continue their studies at higher leaning institutions.Chief Minister cum Sabah Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said at least 5,000 students will benefit, including from less fortunate backgrounds. "This year we have set aside RM10 million as a one off assistance for approximately 5,000 students including those less fortunate students whose parents do not have the means to fund their studies.
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"There are some parents who also end up incurring debt in order to assist their children to further their studies after SPM and STPM."Shafie said the number of scholarship recipients would also be increased in the years to come and there will be recipients from each district in the state.
He said the initiative is proof of the commitment under the new State Government to provide opportunities to young Sabahans to continue their studies to university or tertiary level. "If the state's finances are good we will ensure the assistance will be increased next year as educational knowledge and human capital development is one of the priorities of the state government.
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This is something important for us," he said, after presentation of 29th State Scholarship Awards at the Tun Ahmad Raffae Auditorium, Menara Tun Mustapha, Thursday.This year, 40 excellent SPM students received State scholarships compared to 25 last year.
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Shafie said the State Government will also set up at State level institutions that are linked to industries in the State Government's focus."We have set up such institutions as Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) before so we don't need the approval of any kind of authority to do so. We just set it up and of course we will ensure the school's curriculum will be in line with the industry's needs."Also present was State Education and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and State Education Director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul.Meanwhile Sabah Foundation Deputy Director Datuk Rosmawati Lasuki said the assistance showed the commitment of the State Government to give more opportunities to Sabahans to pursue their education to a higher level.She said KYS will continue to work closely with the state government in efforts to provide education assistance to less fortunate students to pursue their studies.
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"KYS is grateful that the new State Government continues to ensure that education is a main focus of the States development.As such we hope that the education assistance can be increased to ensure that more Sabahans will receive this benefit," she said. - Neil Chan
