Students not left in a lurch
Public varsities have made sure that their new recruits are safe and cared for
PUBLIC varsities have pulled their resources together to help students who showed up on campus to register over the past week after the Higher Education Ministry postponed all face-to-face registrations on Oct 2.
These students had already bought their travel tickets, paid for their accommodation and were already on their way to the respective campuses when they were informed about the last-minute change.
To help students who were stranded with no where else to go, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) set up an emergency welfare fund.
UKM deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs) Prof Datuk Dr Othman A. Karim said the aid is meant to help students with their meals, transportation costs and other expenses incurred as a result of the ministry’s announcement.
“There is no fixed amount for each student.
“It will be disbursed on a caseby-case basis,” he told StarEdu.
He added that a zakat fund for all students was also available and its Welfare Unit is on hand to help those in need.
The initiatives were in line with the Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad’s call on higher education institutions to be empathetic to the plight of students facing difficulties resulting from the move to hold registrations, orientations and classes for the new semester, online to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 among varsity staff and students.
Prof Othman said no one was turned away when they showed up to register for the 2020/2021 aca
demic year last weekend.
UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor said registration on campus was done following strict standard operating procedures.
Students had to undergo a health screening and if they were fine, they could continue their registration at their residential colleges and collect their keys.
“Parents or guardians are only allowed to drop-off the student’s belongings in a designated area and the items will be brought by the college facilitator to the student’s room,” he added.
Prof Mohd Hamdi also said those from red zones were sent to the varsity’s health centre for screening.
If they were found to be high risk, they were referred to the district health office for further tests.
He said those from red zones but low-risk were given a special card and placed in a separate residential college to isolate them from other students.
Prof Othman said no one was left stranded on campus.
“Only some 5% of the nearly 4,000 students who registered – both on-campus and online – chose to stay at the residential colleges,” he said, adding that many of the students prefer to remain home until the Covid-19 situation improves.
Currently, those living on campus are allowed to move in and out freely.
But, Prof Othman said, a movement restriction order may be imposed to protect staff and students as the number of cases is alarmingly high.
“Our Crisis Action Committee
will look into all aspects before coming to a decision,” he added.
In Universiti Malaya (UM), only 14% (613 students) of those who accepted their offer letters registered physically at the campus last weekend.
Those who moved into campus were given non-monetary assistance which includes accommodation, meals, Wifi facilities and healthcare services by UM Student Health Clinic, said its deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs) Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Raman.
He also said students had to undergo health screenings upon arrival. Those who needed to be quarantined were housed in one of the university’s bungalows located outside the campus.
“Non-symptomatic students are allowed to move about and carry out activities in the residential college, as well as the campus.
“Students who need to leave the campus for emergency or personal matters must inform and get permission from their Residential College Master,” he added.
At Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), students who arrived at campus but could not return home were given RM100.
Dubbed “UiTM Prihatin Initiative”, the varsity’s vice-chancellor Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim said the aid was also for students who registered and continued to stay in the residential colleges at UiTM Shah Alam and all their branch campuses.
Students who were residing on campus were also exempted from paying their October residential college fees, he said in a statement.
Prof Mohd Azraai said: “Our priority now is for students to stay safe, healthy and resilient during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
He said a total of 3,252 came to register physically from Oct 1 to 3 at their Bangi, Cheras and Jalan Raja Muda Aziz, Kuala Lumpur campuses, with 940 choosing to stay on in the residential colleges.
“Students who remain in residential colleges will continue to be monitored and assisted according to their needs,” he added.
Zakat-MAIWP Collection Centre has also launched an initiative to help students affected by the sudden change in plans.
Together with the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) and other non-governmental organisations, they had set aside an initial fund of RM100,000 for these higher education students.
“This financial contribution is to cover their current needs such as transportation, accommodation and others,” it said in a statement on Thursday.