1,254 Students Benefit From PTPTN BAeK eKasih Children’s Scholarship

MELAKA, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- A total of 1,254 students nationwide have benefited from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) eKasih Children’s Scholarship (BAeK), involving an allocation of RM20.7 million since the initiative was launched on Jan 1 to Aug 31.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim said the initiative, introduced under Budget 2026, targets a total of 10,000 students nationwide to receive fully funded education, especially those from low-income families registered in the eKasih database.

“Initially, we introduced it for new enrolments, but by looking back at the projections and existing information, we started to expand it to students who have already been pursuing their studies for some time and still have a remaining period of study, but are eligible to receive the scholarship.

“So, we have also expanded it to students who are not limited to those newly enrolled in 2026, but also those who enrolled previously,” he told reporters after a PTPTN BAeK presentation ceremony, which was also attended by PTPTN chief operating officer Mastura Mohd Khalid, in Ayer Keroh here today.

Adam Adli said the expansion would allow students who have already commenced their studies and still have a remaining period of study to be considered, provided they meet the stipulated criteria.

He said that among the recipients in Melaka today was Nurul Shahira Dharmadeydjaya, 22, an Environmental Science student at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), who is currently in her third semester after having previously completed two semesters at the university.

He said the government had also allocated RM210 million for the implementation of the initiative this year, in addition to targeting 3,000 students with disabilities, bringing the overall target for student enrolment or intake covered by the scholarship to 13,000.

Meanwhile, Mastura said students must first apply for a PTPTN loan before cross-checking with the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department (ICU JPM).

She said students identified as belonging to families receiving assistance from ICU JPM would be offered the scholarship based on information verified by PTPTN.

She added that the implementation of the PTPTN BAeK was among the government’s efforts to ensure eligible students do not drop out of continuing their studies at public higher education institutions (IPTA) due to financial constraints.

At today’s PTPTN BAeK presentation ceremony in Melaka, Adam Adli presented the scholarships to four students from UKM, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Politeknik Melaka.

-- BERNAMA