Fewer students to get PTPTN loans

THE number of new students receiving full financing from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) is expected to be reduced by 43%, to 102,000 this year from about 180,000 previously.

This followed PTPTN’s revision of the loan amount and terms and conditions for new applications effective Nov 1 last year, Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday.

Now, only students whose parents are 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) recipients will be considered for the full loan amount. However, following the revision, more students will receive 75% of the full loan.

According to statistics, PTPTN approves some 200,000 loans annually, with 90% of the applicants receiving full loans.

PTPTN marketing and strategic communications chief officer, Mastura Mohd Khalid, told the daily that prior to the revision, only students from families with a household income of less than RM4,000 monthly were eligible for 100% financing.

“Following the revision, only those from family registered for BR1M will be given full financing,” she said.

She said under the new regulations, students from non-BR1M families with a household income of less than RM8,000 monthly will be given 75% financing. Students whose parents earn a total of more than RM8,000 will only get 50% financing, she added.

Prior to Nov 1, only students from families with a household income of between RM4,000 and RM5,000 were given the 75% financing, while those from families with a household income exceeding RM5,000 were given 50% financing.