Student leaders to help poor get education

A convoy of 100 youth and student leaders will be going around the country to seek out underprivileged bumiputra school-leavers and help them pursue further studies at tertiary institutions and skills training institutes.

The Jelajah Pendidikan Bumiputera 2018 (JBP 2018) will identify them from among those who have completed their SPM between 2013 and last year in 92 parliamentary constituencies.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched the convoy, organised by Yayasan Destini Anak Bangsa and Gerakan Pendidikan Bumiputera Malaysia with the cooperation of the 4B Youth Movement, at the Prime Minister's Office grounds here yesterday.

The convoy comprises one bus, six four-wheel-drive vehicles, two vans and assorted multi-purpose vehicles.

It is scheduled to arrive at its first destination in Bagan Datuk, Perak, on March 24.

Deputy Prime Minister and Bagan Datuk MP Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will officiate at the JBP 2018 event at SM Sains Bagan Datuk.

The tour is scheduled to conclude in Sarawak on May 1.

JBP 2018 is Najib’s initiative to help underprivileged Malaysians uplift their children’s education level.

Yayasan Destini patron and JBP parents committee chairman Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar said JBP 2018’s target was to place 65,000 bumiputra SPM leavers in 37 institutions of higher learning and skills institutes as well as public universities.

He said the tour, which began in 2016, had helped to place 100,000 bumiputra SPM leavers so far.

“Our goal is to ensure the students are given counselling so that they can pursue further studies in colleges, polytechnics or public universities in accordance with their academic performance,” he said.

Information on the tour and its stops can be obtained from its website www.jelajahpendidikan.my or on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @JelajahPBofficial.