Indians to be given 10% of 92,000 places in polytechnics

PORT DICKSON: Indian students will be given 10% of the 92,000 places in polytechnics nationwide in stages, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Indians make up 3.8% or 3,547 of total enrolment now.

“Meritocracy, eligibility and competitiveness are aspects that need to be considered in allowing students to pursue higher education.

“But we must uphold social justice by allowing students, particularly those from poor households, who do not meet the entry requirements to be offered a place,” he said at the launch of “Changing the Destiny of Malaysian Indian Youths” at Port Dickson Polytechnic here.

Najib said many students who lived in estates were unable to pursue their higher education due to poverty and lack of access to quality education.

“So, from this year onwards, we will reserve 1,600 places for Indian youths who do not do so well in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia to pursue pre-diploma courses at 20 polytechnics nationwide.

“If they are able to successfully complete the programme, they will be allowed to continue with their diploma and later, degree programmes at institutions of higher education,” he said, adding that they would also be given an allowance of RM250 every month.

Najib said the first batch of 41 Indian students started their courses at the PD Polytechnic in January.

Indian students only need to have three credits in SPM and the combined income of their parents must be below RM3,000 to be eligible.

“I have approved an allocation of RM2mil for this programme,'' he said.

(Source: The Star Online)