THE Pakatan Harapan Education Committee (JKPPPH) has urged the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to reduce university fees for public and private university students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis in the country.
According to the press statement undersigned by seven Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs, this involves the interests of more than 500,000 students from public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) nationwide.
The reduction in university fees also involves the exclusion of unrelated fees considering the fact that most students conduct their lectures and learning sessions online during the pandemic.
For students from private institutions of higher learning (IPTS), the committee hopes that the Government will provide a fee subsidy to students from B40 and M40 families.
On top of the reduction in university fees, JKPPH has also urged the Government to consider additional subsidies to cover university management costs through special grants during the economic crisis.
This includes the distribution of more grants for the development of digital infrastructure and infostructure in all 20 public universities in the country to ensure a smoother digital learning process.
JKPPH further suggested that tax exemptions be given to private universities based on the number of scholarships awarded by the universities, and also based on the reduction of fees that they have given to local students.
The seven MPs involved in JKPPH are Dr Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Datuk Dr Hasan Bahrom (Tampin), Teo Nie Ching (Kulai), Natrah Ismail (Sekijang), Steven Sim Chee Keong (Bukit Mertajam) and Rusnah Aluai (Tangga Batu). – July 9, 2021.
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