Ayer keroh: 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 January 1 to August 31.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim stated that the initiative, introduced under Budget 2026, aims to provide fully funded education to 10,000 students nationwide, particularly those from low-income families registered in the eKasih database. Initially targeted at new enrolments, the initiative has been expanded to include students already pursuing their studies who are eligible for the scholarship.

Adam Adli explained that the expansion allows students who have commenced their studies and still have a remaining period to be considered for the scholarship, provided they meet the criteria. Today in Melaka, among the recipients was Nurul Shahira Dharmadeydjaya, an Environmental Science student at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), currently in her third semester.

The government has allocated RM210 million for the initiative this year, targeting 3,000 students with disabilities, with an overall goal of covering 13,000 student enrolments through the scholarship. Meanwhile, PTPTN chief operating officer Mastura Mohd Khalid emphasized that students must apply for a PTPTN loan before being cross-checked with the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department (ICU JPM) to qualify for the scholarship.

Mastura further noted that the PTPTN BAeK initiative is part of the government's efforts to ensure eligible students do not drop out of public higher education institutions (IPTA) due to financial constraints. At the ceremony in Melaka, Adam Adli presented scholarships to four students from UKM, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and Politeknik Melaka.