Amid controversy over the eligibility criteria for this year’s PSD 9 A + Sponsorship Programme, PSD director-general Datuk Seri Zainal Rahim Seman has a few days ago clarified that last year’s criterion remains unchanged, that is those who scored at least 9 A + in their SPM can apply to be considered.
Confusion has arisen among SPM students as they were informed that only those who obtained A+ in all subjects with a minimum of nine subjects will be offered sponsorship.
However, it remains unclear if all those who meet the criterion will be given the scholarships automatically like last year’s Bursary programme.
Last year, PSD decided to offer 250 Bursary scholarships to students who scored 9 A + and above in their 2015 SPM examination.
But the Cabinet has intervened on April 8 last year and decided that all 714 students who met the criterion to be automatically given the scholarships.
It was certainly a right decision by the Cabinet as any cost saving exercise should not affect the nation’s bright student’s chances of academic pursuit.
When the 2016 SPM results were announced on March 16 this year, it was revealed that 102 students had scored A + in all subjects taken with 9 subjects being the minimum number of subjects taken.
There was no information how many students scored 9 A + and above in the examination.
Till today PSD has not revealed how many scholarships it will offer under the 9 A + Sponsorship programme. Neither has it announced that all those eligible will automatically be given the scholarships.
I call on PSD to be transparent in the award of the scholarships and to immediately announce how many students have qualified for the scholarships and whether they will all be automatically given the scholarships.
Human talent development is important in the country’s progress. PSD should therefore automatically offer the scholarships to all who qualify.
If PSD does not wish to automatically offer to all just like what happened last year when it was only prepared to offer to 250 students instead of all 714 students who met the criterion, the Cabinet must again intervene this year.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/03/19/spm-students-with-9-a-plus-psd-scholarships/