Saturday, July 01, 2006

Scholarship Quotas 2006

I've wrote a few weeks ago that it has finally be made "transparent" by the Government that our JPA scholarships were quota based. 80% reserved for bumiputeras, while the remainder for the non-bumiputeras.

Based on the latest statistics provided by the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Abdul Rahman Suliman, the racial breakdown of receipients was more favourable to non-bumiputeras this year, comprising 23.8% of the receipients. In the past 5 years, it has been consistently limited to 20%.

The Deputy Minister has also provided a breakdown of the racial composition of scholarship receipients by subjects enrolled. It is summarised in the table below:


Non-bumiputeras actually form nearly 30% of the scholarship receipients for those pursuing science and technology degrees. For social sciences, non-bumiputeras also form more than a quarter of the receipients, although the overall number of scholarships for social science candidates form only a tiny 6.7% of all scholarships.

Does these new set of numbers represent a "break" from the past policy of a rigid 80:20 scholarship distribution ratio among ethnic groups? In the past, we know for a fact that there is a rigid formula in place. While non-bumiputeras have benefited a little more in the current year, I'm curious what is the criteria used for scholarship distribution.
[The Deputy Minister] said the criteria used in selecting the applicants was based on academic excellence (65 per cent), involvement in co-curriculum (10), socio-economy and background of families (10) and performance during the interview process (15).
However, I'm certain that ethnic grouping continues to play a role in the distribution of scholarships - hence, what's the new "improved" criterion?

I'll continue to argue for reforms in the JPA scholarship programme as proposed in my earlier Scholarships Quota post. We hope to hear more from the Public Servcie Department.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I suspect the ethnicity serves as a multiplier.

Bumi = x1.5
Non = x0.8

Anonymous said...

Pareto's principle-20% of the scholarship recipients get 80% of the results?

Anonymous said...

OT, just want to point out the current bullying cases happening around.

Pls visit links to watch the videos. We need to spread the message out. This cannot continue. Too much have been said in this blog about education, but only on issues of higher ed. We need to pay more attention to primary/secondary schools. The ones we send our own kids to. Remember this may happen to your own children.

Link 1

Link 2

The can of worms have been open. The next of a series of shocking comments and video clips are sure to spill out.

Anonymous said...

My first question is, How far can we believe the statistics release by the current government? I believe the actual number is lower.

Furthermore, if they said "the criteria used in selecting the applicants was based on academic excellence (65 per cent), involvement in co-curriculum (10), socio-economy and background of families (10) and performance during the interview process (15)," how in this world can they have 1100 Bumiputera students getting JPA scholarships?

If they are really that good, Malaysia already attained developed status 20 years ago.

Anonymous said...

If it is true meritocracy, why are there separate entrance exams; namely matriculation for Bumiputera and STPM for Non-Bumiputera? Also, what is the purpose of asking students whether they are Muslims? As the Bumiputeras are already so advanced, why not have a common entrance exam marked by an overseas body to prevent any underhand prractices? Have the decency to be open and fair!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, scholarship is just one word...it doesn't say anything on the package (full/partial scholarship)received and the terms/conditions for the recipients.

hew said...

well, if non bumis can't get the JPA scholarships of their choice, another entity is always more than willing to step in and extend their help to send them to world class institutions: the Singapore Government.

Anonymous said...

i am a 2003 non-bumi overseas scholarship student & this confession confirms several questions i had in mind for a long long time...
& it has given me some new questions...

who are the bumiputeras?
from my observation, the 80% is divided into 75% muslim bumis & 5% non-muslim bumis

where is the meritocracy?
from my observations, even muslim bumiputeras with 3As can get into an overseas program.
hw is this possible? is politics involved?

May God be the centre of this nation...

Anonymous said...

that's JPA. JPA is pretty good at sticking onto its quota, whatever it is. but does you guys know that other "badan badan berkanun" eg mara (100% bumi), petronas (90%), telekom, tnb (80%) made up probably 60% of the total sponsorship?

oh well...misinformed and misled malaysians

Anonymous said...

hey u guys..do not use your right to freedom of speech to voice out something that can trigger ethnic dissatisfaction.

we non-bumi still control the economy of the countyr.remember that.the govt just doing everything for political reason.

so,buck up!

Anonymous said...

hey..u guys talk loud abt scholarship la what ever la..

which race is the most absentees in NS programme?

chinese la? why? they become NS dodgers because they study oversea.

what else do u want?

Anonymous said...

15 points for the interview is totally outrageous...after all i had a first-hand experience since i attended the interview...apparently the interview only lasted approx. 2 min for each candidate
hardly sufficient time to substantiate your highlights for the question posed.
furthermore my finding was most candidates lacked proficiency in english should a more effecient education commision in charge of such interview such as Singapore's i would conclude that they can barely made past 3 points.

Anonymous said...

absence of chinese?
as to my knowledge there is quota imposed on NS drafting too
the composition is broken down to 6:3:1 ratio. just a rough figure
guess the composition is far biased that is supposedly stated.