Press Digest - New PSD sponsorship condition dashes hopes of SPM top scorers

THE stringent condition of Public Service Department's (PSD) new 9A+ Sponsorship Programme (Penajaan 9A+ or P9A+) has dashed the hopes of many SPM top scorers to study in elite universities overseas or local higher institutions under its sponsorship this year, the Chinese press reported today.
This is because under the P9A+, which replaces the Graduate Bursary Programme used last year, one of the requirements stipulates that only students who obtained A+ in all subjects taken in the 2016 SPM with a minimum of nine subjects will be offered sponsorship.
According to figures released by the Education Ministry last week, of the 434,535 candidates who sat for the SPM examination last year, 8,647 obtained all A's (A+, A and A-).
However, out of the 8,647 all A's achievers, only 102 scored A+ in all subjects.
This means, only 102 will qualify for PSD sponsorship under the new scholarship programme this year.
This is a big drop compared to last year, when a total of 744 students who obtained a minimum of 9A+ were awarded PSD scholarships under the Graduate Bursary Programme.
Under P9A+, candidates will be offered sponsorship in the form of a convertible loan (PBU) to pursue preparatory courses until they obtain their first degree.
The only good news about P9A+ is that PSD has maintained its sponsorship of the top 20 SPM scorers to study in elite universities overseas and the rest of the qualified candidates are allowed to choose to study in any of the 20 public universities, or take up specific courses in six selected top local private universities or the Malaysia campus of three top foreign universities.
Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon urged PSD to revert to the original 9A+ condition used last year as criterion in awarding sponsorship to SPM leavers.
He said the new ruling would discourage students from taking non-core subjects.
"The new all A+ requirement will only discourage students from taking additional subjects, apart from the core nine subjects.
"Before, SPM students could take as many subjects as they wanted without affecting their chances of getting the sponsorship as long as they scored 9A+ and above."