PTPTN vs Free Education in Malaysia

Before you continue reading on, please bear in mind this post is not political motivated. It’s simply MY TWO CENTS. You can disagree with me and leave a comment in a constructive manner. No need to be sarcastic and rude. After all, we are all civilized.

For the past week, there’s been so much said about PTPTN which is short for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation. There was a ‘sit-down protest’ at Merdeka Square a few weeks before, and now some parties are harping on how they can make tertiary education free.

Free tertiary education sounds pretty darn good if you ask me, but realistically I believe it’s impossible unless these people are looking at decreasing the number of students in all private and government universities.

PTPTN for me is one great thing. I know some maybe quick to say that it’s a loan, and it burdens the students from day one of their tertiary education. But then, if it wasn’t for them, those from poor families will not be able to further their studies due to funding issues.

Forget about finishing their diplomas or degrees, they’d be unable to even pay for the registration fees which can amount to thousands! It is really unfortunate that some families in Malaysia are not financially able to provide funds to assist their children entering universities, and this for me is where PTPTN tends to help,… A LOT.

For these people, whom are mostly parents, PTPTN can be a catalyst to drive the family to better socio-economy when their children graduate and get a job. I have personally seen many improve their lives because their children succeed after graduating. They did start with PTPTN as their funder.

When I recall all these incidents, I can’t help but wonder why are some people so against PTPTN?

It is also so unfortunate that some so called ‘educated people’ think that promises of free tertiary education is possible immediately in Malaysia.

A quick example is our very own school system. I’m in the education line, and this year, the government is providing free education for all primary and secondary school students due to what I can deem as ‘pressure’ from the opposition whom feels that the government is not doing enough for education.

The result is that school fees are abolished, and parents need to pay the least to get their children to school.

However, the effects are felt by us in schools where the yearly budget is slashed by huge chunks, and school activities which can actually help develop an individual to greater heights are left with little funding, and therefore done, to be done. We are not allowed to seek extra funding, as that may just end up in the news and we’d be under investigation.

In some cases, parents blame teachers for the lack of funding, saying that schools, including the teachers are highly paid, and therefore should not wait for the government to provide, but rather dig from the teacher’s own pockets. *sigh* It’s as if teachers are THAT highly paid and THAT rich, and that we get allowances to actually buy things for our students. Tell you, when we buy something for our students, it’s from our hard earned pay. There is in no way that the government reimburses us back in any way.

So here, this is what I think. Both sides of the political divide are making populous decisions.

The government will bow to pressure from the rakyat, and shall make decisions which for me are not entirely smart, while the opposition will make promises they hugely can’t keep even when they are in power.

Which side is good, I have no idea, but I can say that free tertiary education is not possible in Malaysia, at least for now. PTPTN despite how some dismiss them, has helped… and for God’s sake, if you know how to borrow money, please know how to pay back.

It is called ‘borrow’ you know.