Top scorers waiting with bated breath for PSD scholarship

Saturday May 7, 2011

By TAN EE LOO
educate@thestar.com.my


PETALING JAYA: Students who scored 8A+ in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2010 reacted euphorically to a Cabinet decision to reward more good students with Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships.

They were thrilled that they have now a renewed chance of receiving Government funding to pursue tertiary education.

Jessy Lee who scored 8A+ and 2A’s was woken up at 7am by her father who read the announcement in the newspaper.

“I couldn’t believe it when I read The Star’s front page this morning,” said the 18-year-old.

“I bought my mother a purse for Mother’s Day, but it would be an even better gift if I could get the PSD scholarship to ease my parents’ financial burden,” said Jessy, who has applied for the scholarship to study Economics.

Another student P. Fuad Jahen, 18, who scored 8A+, said the announcement was an assurance.

“It has given me hope,” he said, adding “it seems the only thing I have to find out now is, if I will get a scholarship to study locally or abroad.”.

Their hope became more certain as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak congratulated the students who scored 8A+’s in his tweet yesterday.

PSD is scheduled to make an announcement on Monday on the successful applicants for the overseas scholarships.

It is not known whether it will postpone this as it has not released any statement in view of the latest development.

In the meantime, StarEducation was inundated with numerous emails seeking hints and clues as to how newly-qualified candidates can apply for a PSD scholarship.

Last July, Najib said that all students who scored 9A+ or more would receive PSD scholarships regardless of their race.

He said this was to show that 1Malaysia was not just a slogan.

During the announcement of the analysis of the SPM 2010 results in March, Education director-general Datuk Abd Ghafar Mahmud said this year’s SPM results were the best in four years.