Aznan (second from right) reading a calligraphy pamphlet at Johor Public Library Corporation Art Festival.
MORE than 75,000 Johor university students will receive “Kad Siswa Johor” (KSJ) in August as part of the state government’s education aid programme.
Johor education and information committee chairman Aznan Tamin said the registration had been open since May, and the government was finalising the date for distributing the cards.
“KSJ is not just a card; we have partnered with a bank so that students can make financial transactions with it and all state government aid for Johor university students will be channelled through the card.
“We expect the launch to be held during Kongres Mahasiswa Negeri Johor in August, involving 10,000 students,” he said after launching the Johor Public Library Corporation Art Festival in Johor Baru.
Aznan said the aid would include one-off university registration and one-off RM500 student education aid.
Those keen to receive the aid can register through Johor Education Foundation’s (YPJ) website.
Aznan also said that the Johor government would be sponsoring five students to further their education at international universities under the “Biasiswa Orang Muda Johor” scholarship initiative.
“Last year, we sent three students abroad to further their studies; this year, we will send five.
“There will also be an incentive from the state to be given to 50 secondary students who manage to get straight As in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations,” he added.
Meanwhile, Aznan said there were about 400 art students registered at the Malaysia Arts School of Johor who were in Form 4 and Form 5.
“The art students are similar to sports students; they take the same core subjects and are given more exposure to arts education.
“We need them because they are the ones who will sustain the art industry in the state.
“It also has huge potential as some of the art pieces by our students have attained high market value.
“I hope to see more public libraries in Johor organising art festivals for our students to explore their skills and creativity,” he said.
