Disadvantaged students thankful for loan

PETALING JAYA: Student S. Kanesh Kumar could not have pursued his university studies without Social Security Organisation’s (Socso) Education Loan. The 24-year-old is now in the final year of his Bachelors in Accounting degree at Manage­ment and Science University (MSU).

Kanesh said that his single mother, who used to work as a housekeeper, could not have been able to afford to pay for his university fees, without receiving Socso benefits. His father died 12 years ago from a heart attack.

The education loan is only for dependants of workers receiving Socso benefits following work related accidents or deaths.

“I am so grateful to get this loan, as it covers both my university fees and living expenses. With this, I’m able to go through university without worrying about money,” he said. The only condition he needed to meet every semester, he said, was to get a CGPA above 2.0.

“If I graduate with good results, Socso will also give me rebates,” he said, adding that at the start of an academic year, Socso will also give him more funds to cover the purchase of textbooks which were costly.

He said the schedule of repayment for the loan is good as there was a six-month grace period after he finishes his studies before he starts the repayment.

Another recipient of the loan is Abdul Rauf Abdul Rahim, whose mum has been a beneficiary of the Dependants’ Benefit after the death of his father.

“My mother told me about Socso’s education loan, so I applied for it,” said Abdul Rauf, 27, who graduated in 2008 with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Shah Alam Polytechnic.

He said that upon graduating with flying colours, he applied for his education loan to be converted into a scholarship.

Now an employee of Socso, Abdul Rauf said the loan, “really helped me, as I wouldn’t have been able to afford to further my studies. My siblings were also all studying at that time and my mum was not working.”

He was thankful to Socso for the loan, adding that the Socso Education Benefit significantly helps disadvantaged students like him to further their tertiary studies.