S’wak govt to help students repay PTPTN arrears
KUCHING: The state government will help Sarawakian students settle their National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan arrears in keeping with a promise made previously, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said RM30 million has been allocated for this purpose, with the state government through Yayasan Sarawak having had talks with PTPTN to determine the method of repayment for the arrears.
“Talks between Yayasan Sarawak and PTPTN have been done and we have the formula to assist Sarawakian students to settle their arrears,” he said in a statement yesterday.
It was stated that the allocation will assist some 9,634 students to settle 30 per cent of their PTPTN arrears.
On other assistances extended to Sarawakian students, the chief minister said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak government has helped those studying in Peninsular Malaysia to return to the state during festive seasons.
He said the government had also taken the initiative to provide free school bus services to students especially in Kuching, to help ease the burden of their parents.
This service, managed by Yayasan Sarawak, will be expanded to other cities in the state in the future, he added.
On pre-school education, Abang Johari said Tadika Sedidik – previously managed by Sarawak Economic Development
Corporation – has been taken over by the state government through the Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry to ensure pre-school education in Sarawak is organised and structured.
Earlier yesterday, Abang Johari presented two buses to Politeknik
Mukah and Politeknik Metro Betong during a ceremony at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.
According to the statement, the two buses were acquired at a cost of nearly RM600,000 and have a capacity of 25 passengers each, and will be utilised by students of the two polytechnics to conduct their activities.
The buses were requested by the students during the ‘Berambeh ngan Abang Jo’ town hall session which was held in conjunction with the Today for Tomorrow Carnival held on July 6, 2019 in Mukah and Dec 15, 2019 in Betong, said the statement.