Perak: The Ministry of Higher Education's (MOHE) targeted tour has continued in Perak, focusing on the Orang Asli community as its fourth group in efforts to expand direct access to higher education information and opportunities. State Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Khairudin Abu Hanipah said the tour at Pos Yum and the Bawong Orang Asli One Stop Centre (OAOSC) in Sungai Siput seeks to ensure Orang Asli children, including those living in remote areas, are not left out of opportunities to pursue higher education.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Khairudin mentioned that the initiative aims to provide equal opportunities for all children, regardless of their location. He emphasized that access to higher education should remain open to both urban and remote communities. This statement was made during the officiation of the 2026/2027 Orang Asli targeted tour programme, 'Mai Hik ke Menara Gading', held at Dewan Pandak Hamid, Bawong OAOSC.
Khairudin highlighted that the programme receives support from various entities, including the Perak state government, the Department of Orang Asli Development, the Perak State Education Department, Yayasan Sultan Azlan Shah, and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The initiatives under the program include guidance on UPUOnline applications, merit score calculations, advice on study pathways, and the Counselor on Wheels service to assist students in identifying fields of study aligned with their potential.
He also noted that the programme focuses on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), short entrepreneurship courses, and professional programmes to enhance the skills and competitiveness of Orang Asli students.
Meanwhile, UPSI deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun stated that the program in Perak is the fourth stop on the tour, organized through the Higher Education Department's Division of Student Admissions to Public Higher Education Institutions. Raja Nor Safinas explained that the initiative takes an inclusive and comprehensive approach, offering higher education guidance, skills development, TVET, welfare and community services, and cultural heritage activities.
At the event, 25 Orang Asli received offer letters for diploma-level teacher training at UPSI.