Opposition plan ‘irresponsible
OIL MONEY FOR EDUCATION: Doing away with PTPTN loans will at best benefit only one generation of students
New Straits Times
SCRAPPING the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) is the product of a conceited political game, as it will rob poor parents of their dream of seeing their children pursue higher education, a minister, academics and non-govermental organisation leaders said yesterday. They said the clincher was the number of students who received financial support to pursue tertiary education, which rose from 27,000 annually to 230,000 after PTPTN came into existence in 1999.
The Pakatan Rakyat plan to abolish PTPTN, at best, will benefit just one generation. One of them said it was totally financially irresponsible to use Petronas money for a single purpose — to foot the education bill.
The New Straits Times was told that the opposition should instead walk the talk by providing free higher education at institutions run by state governments under it, such as Universiti Selangor, Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor and Kolej Universiti Insaniah in Kedah. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said it was impossible to provide free tertiary education as the cost was too huge and at the same time, it was essentially an individual investment.
“The principle in higher education is that an individual must also invest by shouldering part of the cost,” he said. The opposition coalition had recently promised to abolish PTPTN loans and provide Malaysians with free higher education should it come to power.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also maintained that the oil revenue would cover the total cost, a policy described as frivolous. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said on Saturday that RM43 billion was needed to abolish the PTPTN loans, and that the government was subsidising 90 per cent of costs for higher education at public institutions of higher learning (IPTAs).
Khaled said it was important to maintain the PTPTN loans as they not only covered tuition fees but also a student’s living expenses.
“They want to abolish PTPTN, but what about students who enter IPTAs but have to live off-campus? Where will they find the money for rental and food?” he said after launching the 1Malaysia orienteering challenge here yesterday.
Khaled said PTPTN had given many students from the low-income households an opportunity to pursue their studies. “Previously, some parents resorted to putting up their land or homes as collateral for loans (to support their children at universities).” Although countries such as Germany, Denmark and Norway provided free higher education, he said their income tax rates were up to 28 per cent.
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Science, Technology and Human Capital Development Faculty lecturer Dr Mohd Akbal Abdullah said abolishing PTPTN was not a prudent move as only one generation of students would benefit from such a proposal.
“The next generation may not be able to enjoy free education. This is unacceptable as education is not a temporary process, but something that must also benefit future generations.”
Akbal said the PTPTN loans made up a revolving fund as students repaid them for the use of other future deserving students.
Akbal also disagreed with Anwar’s proposal to use the oil revenue for student fees, because oil prices would always fluctuate.
“Oil supply will also deplete over the years and it is obvious that he (Anwar) is politicising the matter. Students may become more enthusiastic over this issue rather than focusing on their studies.”
Pahang Youth Council secretary-general Azrul Khairi Muhamad said everyone should appreciate the government’s effort to cover 90 per cent of the cost to study at an IPTA.
“The PTPTN loans have helped many students. We must also do our part to repay them for the sake of future generations,” said Azrul, who received a PTPTN loan as an undergraduate at the International Islamic University in 2005.
He said it was foolish to force Petronas to cover the cost of tertiary education as the money derived from the national petroleum company should also benefit other sectors, including rural development programmes.
Pahang’s Ikip International College student Jefriy John Palermo, 21, said everyone should stop politicising the matter as any kind of assistance should benefit those from the low-income families more.
“They are the ones who deserve a free education but many, especially those with excellent results, have obtained scholarships.”
