SHAH ALAM, May 26- MIC president Datuk Seri G Palanivel (photo) is confident the initiative, Changing Destiny of 1Malaysia Indian Children (MDA1M) programme launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in February could open up opportunities for Indian students to further their education to higher levels.
He said through the programme, students who achieved moderate results in school could compete with higher achievers.
“Indian students who obtained results of 7As or 8As in the SPM would secure places in institutions of higher learning but some who only managed to obtain three credits in the examination, were not be eligible to further their studies and were caught in various social problems.
“With the MDA1M programme, those who obtained at least three credits in Mathematics, Science and Bahasa Malaysia will be given the opportunity,” he told reporters today.
He was speaking to reporters after a presentation of certificates of appreciation and cash contributions to 200 outstanding students in the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) organized by a non-governmental organisation, Namakkal Society.
Palanivel said the programme was an education reform of the Indian community in the country to raise their socio-economic level. On Feb 25, Najib announced the first group of 1,600 Indian youths furthering their studies at pre-diploma level in 62 technical and vocational courses at polytechnics nationwide apart from being provided with RM250 monthly allowance.
The programme also took on the same approach as the Changing Destiny programme undertaken by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) involving Malay and Orang Asli youths. Successful students would be awarded the diploma and would be allowed to further their studies at institutions of higher learning throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Namakkal Society president, K Subramaniam said the annual programme of rewarding outstanding students was to encourage Indian students to achieve success in the field of education. “This is the fifth proggramme held, and we want to motivate Indian students to focus on their studies,” he said. Each UPSR excellent student was awarded RM150, PMR RM300 while those at SPM, STPM and A-level respectively received RM500 each.
– BERNAMA
