KGBS supports Mara’s move to relax terms of sponsorships

SIBU: Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union ( KGBS) backs Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s ( Mara) move to relax its terms of sponsorship to students with at least four credits, beginning next year.

In welcoming this move, KGBS expressed confidence that more students would be able continue their education to higher levels.

“This move by Mara will delight both students and parents as more students will be able to continue their studies, especially those from rural areas or from the B40 ( low-income) group.”

“It will certainly help to uplift their families when these students successfully complete their studies in future,” KGBS president Ahmad Malie said Tuesday.

He was responding to a Bernama article quoting Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob that beginning next year, Mara would relax its terms of sponsorship for students from low-income ( B40) homes and rural areas to pursue their studies at Kolej Poly-Tech Mara ( KPTM).

Ismail Sabri said the move followed the increased allocation in Budget 2018 for scholarships for tertiary education and training under Mara, after the 34th KPTM convocation ceremony held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on Monday.

At present, he said 40 per cent of KPTM students with a minimum of five credits in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia ( SPM) examination are fully sponsored by the government

On this, Ahmad said: “KGBS hopes that the move will be realised and lead to more students from the target groups in Sarawak.”