The Ministry of Higher Education has allocated RM24 million for Internet data plan assistance to 320,396 students from the B40 category, to ensure that they enjoy a conducive online learning environment following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Its minister Noraini Ahmad said in collaboration with YTL Foundation, Lembaga Tabung Haji, and several telecommunication companies, 225,784 SIM cards have been distributed to the students.
"The remaining 94,612 students will receive cash for the purpose of purchasing data plans," she said at the launch of the data plan package and device assistance for higher education students at the ministry yesterday.
Free laptops will also be given to 5,965 students, and 2,700 students will receive cash assistance for the same purpose while 300 others will get financial loan assistance to own a laptop at a special price, she added.
“The total amount allocated to finance the purchase of these devices is estimated at RM13 million.”
Noraini said in an effort to alleviate the burden of students to bear the cost of online learning, the ministry offered to provide cash assistance of RM50 to all new students for the 2020/2021 session, worth RM3.8 million.
“Through this cash assistance, some 76,153 students will enjoy the benefits that are expected to help them follow the new norm in online learning."
She added that to enable the students to continue online learning, the ministry in collaboration with Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa launched a crowdfunding initiative through Tabung Prihatin Siswa.
This is to get outsiders to join the ministry in channelling contributions to help students continue online learning without any difficulties, Noraini said.
The ministry hopes that the assistance and initiatives offered will be fully utilised and will be able to help students as they face challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, she added.
- Bernama
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