KUALA LUMPUR: Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers who cannot afford tertiary education, especially residents of Anjung Sinar Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN) across the country, have been encouraged to seize the opportunity to continue their education for free in the field of nursing.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said their involvement in the industry could strengthen Malaysia's healthcare service sector, which would face challenges from an ageing population.
"For the children at Anjung Sinar, they do not have a place to stay, so after Form Five, they have no job. Therefore, YKN will help with job matching, and it goes back to this kind of programme.
"This programme, which is fully sponsored, is a saviour for them. Whether they live in villages or stay at Anjung Sinar, this is a very good opportunity for them," she said during a press conference at i-System College Sarawak on Monday (June 3).
She said the free education initiative for the Diploma in Nursing programme, as offered at i-System Colleges, was sponsored by several private hospitals in the country.
Nancy noted that the programme aimed to produce 385 nurses with sponsorships that include accommodation and monthly allowances based on the location of the hospitals involved for industrial training.
She added that the programme also guarantees employment for graduates immediately after they complete their diploma education. – Bernama
