KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry will consider extending National Higher Education Loan Fund (PTPTN) loan repayment exemption to B40 and M40 bachelor’s degree graduates of private higher education institutions who have first-class honours.
Currently, exemptions for loan repayment are only granted to B40 and M40 public university graduates who pass with flying colours.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud (pic) told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Dec 1) that the mechanism for implementing this in the private category needs to be detailed.
Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) had asked if the government planned to review the decision to cancel the exemption for first-class honours graduates from private institutions.
"Previously, the model used included private students, but now it only involves public higher education institutions from the B40 and M40 groups," Mustapha noted.
Acknowledging the validity of the point, Mustapha said the mechanism had to be fine-tuned.
"I think it will be considered by the Finance Ministry and Higher Education Ministry," he said during Question Time.
