Published on: Friday, November 20, 2009 |
The State Government awarded scholarships amounting to RM412 million to over 1,000 students between 1994 and 2009.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department, Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur said 850 students had gone for Bachelor's degrees and 596 for Diplomas at various private higher learning institutions (IPTS) on government scholarships during that period.
"Government scholarships are normally awarded to students furthering studies at public higher learning institutions (IPTA) but some scholarships do go to IPTS students, although the costs are higher compared to IPTAs, to give opportunities to students who did not obtain places in IPTAs," he said.
In the same period, Yayasan Sabah awarded RM143.5 million in scholarships and RM108.7 million in study loans, he added.
"Between 1994 and 2009, Yayasan Sabah awarded study loans to 2,343 Diploma students, undergraduate students (2,757), Masters' students (246) and Doctoral degrees (16).
"At the same time, Yayasan scholarships were awarded to 2,223 Diploma students, undergraduate students (1,004) and 32 Masters' students," Datu Nasrun said, when was replying to Bingkor Assemblyman, Justin Guka during question time.
He said the State government was giving an average of RM25 million in scholarships annually, with Yayasan Sabah averaging RM8 million and RM6 million in scholarships and study loans yearly.
Besides that, to stimulate academic achievements among students in Sabah, he said the Education Ministry had given scholarships to underprivileged students who excelled in their studies, co-curriculum and sports.
He said more than RM17.8 million in scholarships were allocated to the State Education Department by the Ministry in 2009, involving 18,977 students.
