The Problem with JPA and MARA scholarships

[senksiang90]

The reason I have this thread is not to spark a senseless debate but just to express myself as a neutral party judging from what I am currently observing.

As we all know, after SPM, we mostly apply for JPA and majority of us shall get this scholarship. At this point, it is obvious that the quota for each races are apportioned based on the population. But this is the straightforward story we all know..

What we don't know about JPA or MARA scholarships is that it provides a route out for bumiputera scholars who failed to meet the cut-off point from other sponsoring body. Take for example, Petronas. I have friends who's A level result is really bad-to the extent that there are subject failures(ungraded)-. His Petronas contract was terminated and so he referred to JPA for a lifeline. In the end, he got a place in one of the G8 universities in Australia.

So much for stressing on equality here in BTN programmes. I don't want to accuse anyone or not that the person is not hardworking enough. The fact is that, where scholarships are concerned, it shouldn't be given out this easily! It makes us wonder more about how easy one has to do to get one-especially for bumiputeras.

The person I mentioned about is one of my closest buddies during college time. Though I feel really relieved that his worries are finally over, I can't help but feel racially discriminated over this issue-yet again scholarships problem- oh well..

Life's unfair. Live with it.

[senksiang90]

that's why I say this is the part of story many doesn't know. failed A level applicants can only apply to 3 unis and will be sponsored fully by JPA.

(1) Australian National University (ANU)
(2) University of Melbourne
(3) University of Sydney

*no he is not resitting for a level. requirement to enter australian universities is rather low and that it seems like as long as u've got the money, u can get in.

[Koschei]

yes, australian unis are pretty notorious for preferring money over grades, but there's not much that we can do here in Malaysia. It's not like we can force them to improve their academic requirements. What JPA can do is to change the criteria for granting of scholarships after they've failed their Pre-U: Make their continued sponsorship past the first year be conditional upon excellent results in their first year.

I'm assuming your friend had a very thick, high quality cable, right?

[senksiang90]

LOL. no. but so far, all Petronas pre-u failures have successfully appealed to JPA. 2 to Melbourne and 1 to UniSyd-the one that I know of- Well, Petronas requirements is 4Bs...

[kmyong04]

Wat cos is ur fren taking in UniSyd? I heard med, vet sc n dentistry very difficult 2 get in. Ter 90++

[Nicholasng925]

Wat cos is ur fren taking in UniSyd? I heard med, vet sc n dentistry very difficult 2 get in. Ter 90++

But his friend was doing A-Levels, not SAM.

[slappyfin3]

LOL. no. but so far, all Petronas pre-u failures have successfully appealed to JPA. 2 to Melbourne and 1 to UniSyd-the one that I know of- Well, Petronas requirements is 4Bs...

I think the use of "failures" here is a little harsh. Don't you think?

Although it seems unfair to "bail out" these people, let's seriously consider that perhaps these people really were not able to meet the standards which were expected of them. Everybody deserves second chances. Just because our expectations of ourselves (academically, strictly) are higher, it doesn't give us the right to expect the same of others.

And, on the flip side, such realities of life living in Malaysia are what ultimately motivates us to excel.

As for these people you're talking about, I just hope that they took some lessons from this experience. I don't think that you can afford to screw up in University, reality will come knocking at the door sooner or later.

[dragon]

[quote=slappyfin3;344284]

Although it seems unfair to "bail out" these people, let's seriously consider that perhaps these people really were not able to meet the standards which were expected of them. Everybody deserves second chances. Just because our expectations of ourselves (academically, strictly) are higher, it doesn't give us the right to expect the same of others. [quote]

I do agree that ppl deserves second chance, so get them to do A-Levels again to meet the standards. And I believe the standards are not only our expectations but also the expectation of all the tax payers and other students who can meet at least the 4B's. So yes, I do think it gives us the right to expect the same of those who so conveniently proceed on to uni under scholarship just like that. Admins : I'm also not trying to start an argument, just my opinion.:)

[Alexis Ma]

This is another example of how inefficiently resources are being allocated in our country.

But I reek of hypocrisy. A A A- B+ in STPM, 7A1 4A2 in SPM, and simply because 2007 was close to an election year, I have a scholarship from the JPA right now to read medicine in Monash Sunway.

I would say that this "Tajaan Tambahan SPM 2007 9A" programme is a political tool to satisfy entire swaths of SPM students in 2007.

I am not complaining about my great luck, but I wish the government would get real about scholars and meritocracy. How else do you judge whether someone needs a scholarship or not?