Medical students can’t cope even with loans

NST: NILAI: Students pursuing medical degrees at private institutions of higher learning (IPTS) are finding it difficult to make ends meet.
This is despite an increase in the maximum loan amount under the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
"A lot of these students are struggling to cope financially even with the increase in the loan amount," Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said.
He said it was, therefore, important for IPTS to come up with more financial schemes.
"IPTS could offer more scholarships and loans to help."
In March, the Higher Education Ministry had announced an increase in the maximum loan amount for PTPTN loans for students pursuing the Bachelor of Medical Science at private institutions. The maximum loan amount rose from RM20,000 per year to RM30,000 per year.
Ong was speaking after the scholarship presentation ceremony for students of INTI International University College (INTI-UC) at its campus here yesterday.
Present were INTI-UC executive chairman Tan Yew Sing and president and vice-chancellor Prof Dr Lee Fah Onn. Scholarships worth RM2.5 million were awarded to 450 INTI-UC students.
Ong said more IPTS had expressed interest in joining the Higher Opportunities for Private Education (HOPE) programme.
The HOPE programme is an initiative to help students who failed to gain entry into public universities find alternative paths to gain a tertiary education.