MOHE’s Targeted Tour 2026 Widens Higher Education Access For Orang Asli

IPOH, Sept 17 (Bernama) --The Ministry of Higher Education’s (MOHE) targeted tour has continued in Perak, focusing on the Orang Asli community as its fourth group in efforts to expand direct access to higher education information and opportunities.

State Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Khairudin Abu Hanipah said the tour at Pos Yum and the Bawong Orang Asli One Stop Centre (OAOSC) in Sungai Siput seeks to ensure Orang Asli children, including those living in remote areas, are not left out of opportunities to pursue higher education.

“Wherever our children are, whether in urban or remote areas, opportunities and access to pursue higher education remain open,” he said in a statement issued by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) today.

He said this while officiating the 2026/2027 Orang Asli targeted tour programme, “Mai Hik ke Menara Gading”, at Dewan Pandak Hamid, Bawong OAOSC, today.

Khairudin said the programme receives cooperation from the Perak state government, the Department of Orang Asli Development, the Perak State Education Department, Yayasan Sultan Azlan Shah and UPSI.

“Among the initiatives are guidance on UPUOnline applications, merit score calculations, advice on study pathways, and the Counselor on Wheels service to help students identify fields of study suited to their potential,” he said.

He also said the programme emphasises Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), short entrepreneurship courses and professional programmes to enhance the skills and competitiveness of Orang Asli students.

Meanwhile, UPSI deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun said the program in Perak is the fourth stop on the tour, organised through the Higher Education Department’s Division of Student Admissions to Public Higher Education Institutions.

Raja Nor Safinas said the initiative adopts an inclusive and comprehensive approach, offering higher education guidance, skills development and TVET, welfare and community services, as well as community and cultural heritage activities.

At the event, 25 Orang Asli received offer letters for diploma-level teacher training at UPSI.

-- BERNAMA