High fees deter youth from pursuing tertiary education

PETALING JAYA: Irfan Jalil wants to study English after he gets his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results. But he is in a dilemma: his family had recently lost its breadwinner – his father – so if he wants to go to college, he has to take a loan.

But if the 18-year-old follows through with his plan and gets a loan, it would strain his future finances and crimp his ability to support his mother and three younger brothers, who are still in school.