Free education will foster ungratefulness’

Those who pay to further their studies will value education more than those who receive free scholarships, says minister.

KUALA LUMPUR: Those who pay to further their studies in tertiary institutions will value education more than those who receive it for free, Deputy Education Minister Mary Yap opined today.

Yap made this statement when disclosing measures taken by the government to overcome the outstanding debt of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) at the moment.

“Receiving free tertiary education would foster an attitude of lack of appreciation for education,” Yap said in Parliament here.

“When students pay for their own education… or when parents pay for their children, they tend to be more involved in the well-being and education of their children,” she added.

This prompted Ipoh Timor MP Su Keong Siong to say: “Students will appreciate education if given the chance, not when they have to pay”.

In response, Yap curtly said: “You are entitled to your own opinion.”

Mersing MP Dr Latiff Ahmad then pointed out that the top universities in the world were all paid institutions, and that free education does not equate good performance.

“The Top 10 best universities in the world require payment,” he said.

“This free education as pledged by the Opposition, has any study been made?” he asked.

Yap further disclosed that there are presently 1,345,894 PTPTN borrowers, with an overall loan totalling RM9.7 billion.

“946,000 or 60% of borrowers have paid debts totalling RM4.87 billion, which represents 50.4% of the overall debt,” she said.

Yap then said it was impossible to abolish the PTPTN study loan as this would “incur higher taxes”.

“In the event the government implements free tertiary education, it would have to spend billions for education. Therefore, funding for other sectors such as development, construction, and services, will be cut,” she explained.

“Furthermore, if the government funds tertiary education, it will limit academic freedom and restrict the students from learning to their full potential.”

Pakatan Rakyat’s promise of free education for all will cost the country RM45 billion per annum and has been slammed by critics for “funding everyone including under serving students”.

Prior to the general election in May, Pakatan was also slammed for not implementing the promise of free education in schools during their five years of rule in the four states governed by them.