KOTA KRAI - Students who have the opportunity to continue their studies at a higher education institution should not be quick to reject the offer because various aids are available to give them the opportunity to study.
Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR) General Manager, Syaiful Rizal Abdul Ghani said, there are many initiatives from a number of parties that provide help for students to continue their tertiary education.
"If there is an offer, don't be quick to reject it because there could initiatives provided especially for the B40 group," he said.
Syaiful said this after presenting a cash donation at the home of a rubber tapper's daughter Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) student, Fatin Nur Aqilah Mat Som, 18, in Kampung Chuchoh Puteri on Monday.
Fatin had achieved excellent results for her SPM examination.
He said that more than 6,543 students across the country have received help from YBR involving more than RM180 million from 2007 to last January.
He explained that this advantage allows many poor students to continue their studies at higher education institutions (IPT).
According to him, the institution's main focus is to help students prepare for early studies, including the preparations for life on campus.
"Last year, YBR also allocated about RM500,000 for donations for socio-economic improvement, education, community empowerment, and care assistance," he said.
Syaiful added that the foundation cooperated with 20 public universities involving the allocation of RM100,000 as early assistance to students.
Meanwhile, Fatin Nur Aqilah is determined to continue her studies in Form Six at Sekolah Kebansaan Sultan Yahya Petra.
She previously received an offer to continue her studies at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam majoring in Diploma in Art and Design but had to decline due to financial constraints.
The student whose father died four years ago wants to look after her mother Moraini Ismail, 52, with other siblings before continuing her studies at university.