Parliament: More Than 2000 Orang Asli Students Complete Higher Studies
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- As many as 2,103 students from the Orang Asli community have successfully completed their studies at public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) and private higher education institutions (IPTS), until December last year.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this year 310 Orang Asli students have been offered places at IPTAs, following emphasis by his ministry via the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA).
"JAKOA has recorded the academic achievements of Orang Asli students, namely Doctor of Philosophy (four), Master\'s degree (24), Bachelor\'s Degree (912), diploma (126), certificate level (340) and matriculation and foundation levels (47)."
"In 2012, JAKOA collaborated with Universiti Teknologi MARA for special admission for Orang Asli students with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia to the PraDiploma Studies Programme, known as Changing the Orang Asli's Destiny programme which until 2016 a total of 275 people have been and are currently enrolled in," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2018 for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Ismail Sabri said the dropout rate among Orang Asli students has witnessed a drop of 16.25 per cent this year compared to 25.54 percent in 2012.
Meanwhile, in order to remove the Orang Asli community from the poverty line, he said JAKOA will continue to focus on commercial rubber and oil palm plantation projects undertaken by the community including cooperating with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) and FELCRA Bhd to implement 158 Commercial Replanting projects.
"The project has benefitted 8,817 Orang Asli with dividends of RM400 to RM1,000 per month depending on the performance of the plantation and commodity prices," he said.
-- BERNAMA
