4 MOHE Initiatives That Aim To Improve The Welfare & Safety Of Uni Students And Staff
In line with their #KPTPrihatin slogan, the MOHE hopes that the tangible assistance through the various initiatives will help the target group feel safer and more secure.
By Gowri Chitra — 12 Nov 2021, 10:12 AM
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the new Cabinet must prove their achievements within 100 days after appointment, during a speech on 27 August
This initiative is known as Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia (AKM) 100 Hari Anggota Jemaah Menteri.
In response to this, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) has outlined four initiatives that they intend to achieve within 100 days, which started on 1 September.
1. Provision of free food vouchers through the FOOD@CAMPUS Keluarga Malaysia programme
Through this programme, free food vouchers will be given to B40 students on a targeted basis. In principle, the issuance of food vouchers is due to the MOHE's concern over the cost of living burden faced by students and families, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MOHE estimates that a total of 443,760 food vouchers can be provided, with a value of RM15 per voucher. The programme, which started on 18 October, involves an allocation of RM6.6 million. Approximately 88,752 targeted B40 students, who have been identified by their respective public universities, are expected to benefit from this initiative.
The programme is being implemented via two methods:
- Five universities, namely Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Pertahanan Malaysia (UPNM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UniMAS), and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), will be using digital vouchers, which can be redeemed by scanning a QR code.
- 15 other universities will be using cash vouchers, in which money is put into student accounts for food purchase.
Students can redeem these food vouchers at the cafeterias of their respective universities.
2. Provision of vaccines to those in tertiary education via the VACC2CAMPUS programme
In line with the reopening of university campuses in stages starting from 15 October, this programme aims to create a safe campus community.
The MOHE targets that 100% of IPT students, academic staff, and non-academic staff, who are registered in MySejahtera and are able to be vaccinated, will receive a complete vaccination, totalling to 1,276,267 people.
3. Supply of Rapid Test Kits (RTK) to IPT students through the RTK@CAMPUS programme
This programme is one of the MOHE's measures in ensuring the safety of campus residents, as well as to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. RTK units will be supplied to existing students, new students, off-campus students who commute regularly, and students who show symptoms.
A total of 1.16 million RTK units will be supplied, involving an allocation cost of RM17.5 million.
4. Offering employment opportunities and income generation to IPT students through the GETHIRED@KPT programme
Through this, the MOHE targets that at least 13,000 Malaysian students will get job placements and income generation within three months, namely from September to November.
There are four main initiatives implemented by the MOHE to make the GETHIRED@KPT programme a success:
- PENJANA KPT-CAP
- Graduate Marketability Intervention Programme
- Structured Internship Program (SIP)
- Entrepreneurship Programme
In a recent interview, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad shared the current progress of the four initiatives, as of 10 November
FOOD@CAMPUS Keluarga Malaysia programme
- A total of 382,259 food vouchers have been distributed to the target group. The MOHE has scheduled another 310,632 vouchers to be distributed throughout November.
VACC2CAMPUS programme
- 86% or 1,086,469 IPT students, academic, and non-academic staff have been fully vaccinated
- All vaccinations are expected to be completed by 7 December
RTK@CAMPUS programme
- With a cost of RM17.5 million, a total of 1,169,728 RTK units have been successfully supplied. The remainder will be distributed by the end of this month at the latest.
GETHIRED@KPT programme
- A total of 13,231 Malaysian students have obtained job placements and income generation. At least 4,000 more Malaysian students will receive the same by the end of this year.
With tangible assistance through the various initiatives, which are all in line with the MOHE's #KPTPrihatin slogan, the ministry hopes that the target group feels safer and more secure, especially in terms of welfare and safety
The MOHE believes that before we step into the endemic phase, the health and welfare of all those in tertiary education in the country must be prioritised, and should be ensured at the best level.
