KUALA LUMPUR: Funding for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) will be prioritised for students who pursue courses with high marketability, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the move aims to ensure that borrowers can secure employment after graduation.
He added that PTPTN financing rate would remain, according to the existing household income categories.
"Students from households receiving the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) will be eligible for 100 per cent loan support from PTPTN for the courses they pursue.
"Students from households with a monthly income below RM8,000 will be eligible for up to 75 per cent of the loan, while those from households earning RM8,000 or more will receive 50 per cent of the loan.
"This loan mechanism will remain in place to ensure fair financial assistance, taking into account the students' household income levels," he said in response to Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap).
He inquired about the ministry's stance on the proposal to stop PTPTN funding for courses with repayment rates below 30 per cent.
Meanwhile, Mustapha said, the Malaysian Qualifications Agency introduced the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (Apel) as an effort to support the lifelong learning (PSH) agenda as well as the global agenda on the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said Apel was introduced in three categories — Apel for access, Apel for credit award and Apel for award of academic qualifications.
"To encourage the community to support the PSH agenda, the ministry, through PTPTN, also provides education loan facilities and is open to all local citizens who get offers to public and private higher education institutions and polytechnics.
"They also need to meet the entry qualification requirements set by the ministry, including students who get an offer through the Apel qualification.
"Applicants also need to meet the application requirements as stated on the PTPTN portal, including being no more than 45 years old on the date of application and courses followed by students need to be approved by the ministry and registered with PTPTN."