Education Minister Maszlee Malik has pledged to fulfil Pakatan Harapan’s promise of providing free tertiary education before the end of its mandate, saying a mechanism is being worked out to study its implementation.
“At the university level, on top of the government subsidies, there are still minimal fees that the students have to pay.
“This is still at the final analysis stage, to see what is the best mechanism.
“Insya-Allah, in the next two to three years, we will try to ensure the promise mentioned can be fulfilled,” Maszlee said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to an additional question from Salim Sharif (BN-Jempol) who had asked about the Harapan manifesto promise for free education as well as any help from the government for B40 students.
“For now, our priority is to look into our debts. Once the financial constraints are resolved, then the Education Ministry will definitely look into the best ways to implement free education in universities,” he said.
Maszlee also pointed out that primary and secondary level schooling is already free.
He also said that his ministry already provides many incentives to B40 students.
Not only that, but other ministries also have many initiatives to uplift and help B40 students, he added.