Budget 2016 revision: Four JPA sponsorship programmes to go on

PUTRAJAYA: Four Public Service Department (JPA) sponsorship programmes for 2016 will continue, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

In announcing Budget 2016 revision here, Najib said the government gave its assurance and commitment on the education and future of Malaysians.

Najib, also Finance Minister, said the four programmes encompassed the National Scholarship Programme for the top 20 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia students to further their studies at leading universities in the world.

The others are:

* Special Engineering Programme for 200 students to Japan, Korea, Germany and France;

* Bursary Graduate Programme for 744 students to pursue undergraduate studies in public universities and private institutions of higher learning in the country; and,

* the new intake of 8,000 students to be awarded scholarships to pursue undergraduate studies in the country.

Najib also announced that the allocation for the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) financing totalling RM5bil would continue to be channelled to undergraduates.

To intensify investment in human capital, the MyBrain15, Academic Training Scheme for Bumiputera (SLAB) and Academic Training Scheme of Public Higher Education Institutions (SLAI) programmes will be continued.

"Currently, 25,000 students are pursuing studies under these programmes," said the prime minister.

He said the government had agreed to an increase of 15,000 new students for MYMaster programme, 5,000 for MyPhD, and 300 for SLAI.

All these programmes will be given an additional allocation of RM300mil. - Bernama