Gerakan: Helping students not a competition
Wong Yeen FernPublished: Jun 23, 2006 5:58 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Gerakan Youth has no intention to compete with MCA through its recently set-up public assistance counters to help excellent students pursue tertiary education.
Gerakan Youth has no intention to compete with MCA through its recently set-up public assistance counters to help excellent students pursue tertiary education.
On the contrary, the party hoped that its decision to set up public assistance counters would make way for the party to work closer with MCA in helping students who had failed to secure a place in public universities, said Gerakan Youth secretary-general Hoo Saw Ho.
He said that the party's main aim in offering public assistance was purely to help students in dire straits, stressing that it was not a publicity stunt.
"Our role here is to provide more avenues for students to appeal. They can appeal through MCA, and they are also welcomed to appeal through the Gerakan channel. It depends on their preference," said Hoo when contacted.
He explained that the wing decided to set up the public counters following a meeting between Barisan Nasional youth wings and Deputy Higher Education Minister Ong Tee Kiat two weeks ago.
"In that meeting, there was a consensus that we will work under BN Youth which will compile the appeals of students before submitting them to the ministry," he said.
Nation-wide assistance
The Gerakan public counters, Hoo said, were not confined to the city centre to ensure that students outside Kuala Lumpur and Selangor would not be neglected.
"We have set up such counters at Gerakan headquarters in every state and will begin our operation on June 22. We hope students will act fast in getting assistance as the dead-line set by the Ministry of Higher Education for appeal is June 30,
"At the same time, we will be liaising closely with the ministry to obtain latest information and the development of the complaint," he said.
Speaking on other issues, Hoo expressed concern on the confusion over the evaluation of the 10 percent co-curriculum marks that contributes to the students' Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) result.
"(The ministry should) explain in more detail on the (evaluation of marks involved ) in co-curriculum activities. The students and parents claimed that they were unclear how the full 10% mark can be obtained. They want the evaluation to be made more transparent," Hoo elaborated.
He said that since the Higher Education Ministry is now emphasising the importance of co-curriculum activities, students in matriculation programme may face some disadvantages compared to students in Form 6.
This is because, matriculation students only have a year to complete their studies and may not have enough time for co-curriculum activities.
"Sixth formers have about one and half years before they sit for their STPM (Higher Education Certificate) papers students, hence they are able to take part in the co-curricular activities."
He hoped that the ministry would take note of the matter and come to a better arrangement that would benefit all students - those taking STPM and those undergoing the matriculation programme.
On the contrary, the party hoped that its decision to set up public assistance counters would make way for the party to work closer with MCA in helping students who had failed to secure a place in public universities, said Gerakan Youth secretary-general Hoo Saw Ho.
He said that the party's main aim in offering public assistance was purely to help students in dire straits, stressing that it was not a publicity stunt.
"Our role here is to provide more avenues for students to appeal. They can appeal through MCA, and they are also welcomed to appeal through the Gerakan channel. It depends on their preference," said Hoo when contacted.
He explained that the wing decided to set up the public counters following a meeting between Barisan Nasional youth wings and Deputy Higher Education Minister Ong Tee Kiat two weeks ago.
"In that meeting, there was a consensus that we will work under BN Youth which will compile the appeals of students before submitting them to the ministry," he said.
Nation-wide assistance
The Gerakan public counters, Hoo said, were not confined to the city centre to ensure that students outside Kuala Lumpur and Selangor would not be neglected.
"We have set up such counters at Gerakan headquarters in every state and will begin our operation on June 22. We hope students will act fast in getting assistance as the dead-line set by the Ministry of Higher Education for appeal is June 30,
"At the same time, we will be liaising closely with the ministry to obtain latest information and the development of the complaint," he said. Speaking on other issues, Hoo expressed concern on the confusion over the evaluation of the 10 percent co-curriculum marks that contributes to the students' Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) result.
"(The ministry should) explain in more detail on the (evaluation of marks involved ) in co-curriculum activities. The students and parents claimed that they were unclear how the full 10% mark can be obtained. They want the evaluation to be made more transparent," Hoo elaborated.
He said that since the Higher Education Ministry is now emphasising the importance of co-curriculum activities, students in matriculation programme may face some disadvantages compared to students in Form 6.
This is because, matriculation students only have a year to complete their studies and may not have enough time for co-curriculum activities.
"Sixth formers have about one and half years before they sit for their STPM (Higher Education Certificate) papers students, hence they are able to take part in the co-curricular activities."
He hoped that the ministry would take note of the matter and come to a better arrangement that would benefit all students - those taking STPM and those undergoing the matriculation programme.
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