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PKR to help poor school-leavers further their studies

PKR to help poor school-leavers further their studies

PKR today said it is setting up a Higher Education Appeal Panel (HEAP) to assist school-leavers from low-income groups to further their studies.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said there were many SPM and STPM students from lower-income groups who did not get into institutions of higher learning.

"Every year between March and June, there are many anxious parents and students waiting to hear whether they have been accepted into local universities.

"Many a time, the spotlight is only focused on excellent students who have failed to get into a university of their choice or to pursue the course of their choice.

"However, students from poor families normally slip below the radar and are left with no options for further studies opportunities," said Sim (pic, top right).

Sim told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today that the process after leaving school and moving on to an institute of higher learning was never short of controversies.

"Every year, there are reports of how parents and students are disappointed that they did well in examinations but were not accepted into the course of their choice.

"Although the disappointment and heartaches are reported in the media, they are just the tip of the iceberg.

"This is why PKR has decided to establish HEAP, to study the awarding of scholarships and intake at institutes of higher learning."

Sim said HEAP would propose alternatives as the two issues needed urgent reforms.

"HEAP will also study cases where students from poor families who did well in their examinations did not get the opportunity to further their studies."

He said HEAP would also organise career training for school-leavers so that they could weigh their options for tertiary education.

Members of HEAP include Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, deputy Selangor speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Penampang MP Darell Leiking.

"We will issue updates from time to time on how the public can make their complaints so that HEAP can bring it to the attention of the relevant authorities," Sim said. – April 23, 2014.