Fee exemption for 10,000 varsity students from B40 households, says Khaled

Photo: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 10,000 students from underprivileged homes will be given full tuition fee exemption at public universities.

Sinar Harian reported that Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (pic) said approximately RM30mil would be allocated under the Keluarga Malaysia First Child Student Development Programme (Sulung) for the purpose.

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He said the initiative was carried out as there were children from the B40 group who had obtained excellent results in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) examinations but were unable to further their studies due to financial constraints.

He said this was regrettable and the ministry is determined to ensure that it does not happen.

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"This inaugural programme targets the first representative from each B40 family to be successfully admitted to university.

"Those who are identified will be completely exempted from tuition fees," he said at an event on Sunday (June 4).

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However, he said students need to pay for their own living costs as the programme only covers tuition fees.

The programme is aimed at giving youths in the B40 community a better chance at pursuing a higher education.

Sulung is a structured development programme designed to grow the potential of selected B40 students to become catalysts for individual and community development.