According to the Public Service Department (PSD) esila portal, the Bursary Graduate Programme has been renamed as the National Sponsorship Programme.
Under the old programme, full sponsorship was given as long as a SPM student scored 9A+ and above.
Under the new programme, a new condition has been imposed whereby only those achieving A+ for all the subjects taken will get the PSD sponsorship.
The imposition of such new condition is unfair and illogical. It is unfair as it was an abrupt last minute change for the 2016 SPM scorers who have thought that their application will be subjected to the condition in the old programme.
It is illogical as it now means that while a student who has scored all A+ in the 9 subjects taken is qualified for scholarship, another student who has taken 11 subjects but scored only 10 A+ will not be granted scholarship.
Where is the logic when a student with 9A+ is qualified for scholarship while those who have taken more than 9 subjects and have scored 10 or 11 or 12 A+ are not qualified? Which is better result, 10 A+ or 9 A+?
The new condition will also have very serious impact on the number of students who will take up Tamil and Mandarin subjects in future examinations due to the fear that their chances of obtaining the scholarship will be affected.
It was reported that Minister in the Prime Ministerโs Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the change in condition was never discussed in Cabinet.
Cabinet should therefore intervene and direct the PSD to rescind the new condition and to grant full sponsorship to students as long as a student scored 9A+ and above.
Teresa Kok