KUALA LUMPUR: The number of students eligible for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) free education initiative depends on the number of applicants each year, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (pic).
The Higher Education Minister said that the number of applicants may vary depending on the situation and the application process.
“This list depends on the number of applicants each year.
“As announced previously, we may have more than 5,800 applicants,” he said after delivering a keynote address at the EU-Asean Policy Dialogue on Higher Education: Enhancing Talent and Skills Development through Internalisation yesterday.
When tabling Budget 2026 on Oct 10, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced free education for 5,800 students from poor families pursuing studies at public higher education institutions, with an annual allocation of RM120mil via PTPTN.
The initiative targets students from households earning below RM2,700 per month.
Zambry said the move reflects the government’s commitment to uplifting underprivileged communities, adding that it aims to ensure financial struggles do not hinder anyone’s access to education.
Meanwhile, he also said the Higher Education Ministry plans to recognise Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and university academic degrees as equivalent qualifications.
“It is also in line with our current policy of Higher Education 2025-2035, when we go into unbundling our education concept. It is no longer based on the university’s curriculum and must also be based on TVET,” he said.
Zambry said students should be given opportunities to pursue all forms of higher education, including technical education.
“Right now in Malaysia, we have four universities under the Malaysian Technical Universities Network (MTUN) and we have agreed to have more in the future.
“At present, more than 50,000 students are enrolled in MTUN institutions, polytechnics and community colleges,” he added.
Zambry also added that mobility – one of the key pillars of internationalisation – must extend to TVET institutions, apprenticeships and industry immersion programmes.
“This must be a two-way exchange, with more Asean students studying in Europe and more Europeans coming to Asean,” he said, adding that Malaysia today proudly hosts over 130,000 international students from more than 160 countries.
Also present at the dialogue were European Union (EU) ambassador to Asean Sujiro Seam, Philippines Commission on Higher Education chairperson Dr Shirley Castaneda Agrupis and Philippines ambassador to Malaysia Maria Angela Ponce.
Now in its third edition, the EU-Asean Policy Dialogue marks ongoing collaboration between EU and Asean to create a more connected and dynamic higher education landscape through the EU-Asean Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE).
The dialogue brings together representatives from higher education and TVET institutions, ministries and the private sector to explore ways to strengthen collaboration, foster academic and student mobility and position Asean higher education as a global partner in innovation, excellence and sustainability.
