Award grants to all SPM top scorers

2008/07/15

Award grants to all SPM top scorers

Be fair to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia top scorers regardless of race, religion or gender if scholarships are to be automatically awarded to them.

This was the response from Umno Youth yesterday to the announcement that beginning this year, all Indian students who scored 9As and above in their SPM would get government scholarships to pursue their studies in government universities and four local private universities.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam had said the decision to give the scholarships was made on July 1 at the first meeting of the Special Committee for Indian Related Affairs, formed under the directive of the cabinet and chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Umno Youth education bureau chief Ahmad Ikmal Ismail said the awarding of scholarships should not be slanted towards a particular race and the 9As criterion should be a universal one.

"If the government wants to use 9As as the main academic requirement, then make sure it applies to all races."

He said the matter should be studied and implemented properly as it may strain the government's finances.

"If 5,000 students score 9As and above, is the government going to award them all?"

Ahmad Ikmal said the Public Service Department should also consider the family background and geographical factors before awarding a scholarship.

He also suggested that the top 50 SPM achievers be automatically awarded government scholarships to pursue a course of their choice to ensure that the best brains in the country were rewarded.

MCA Youth education bureau chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who is also Deputy Education Minister, meanwhile said the decision to give scholarships for those who score 9As and above in their SPM applies to all.

"This is blanket approval given by the government to recognise the students' hard work.

"MCA Youth welcomes this move," he said.

ST