KUCHING: Orang Ulu associations in the state have been urged to continue to assist Orang Ulu students by equipping them with accurate information on education assistance and ensure that they get into universities.
Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala said the students must be given the right information on available options such as which universities they can apply to, tuition fees, and sponsorships.
“After they have completed their Form 5 studies, we must also make sure we give them the right information on the types of education assistance available.
“On the matter of sponsorship, this is where a lot of students get ‘stuck’ because they cannot obtain sponsorships,” he said during a Pemung Keja’ie (Get Together) dinner jointly organised by the Sarawak Kenyah National Association (PKKS), Kuching Branch and Peng Leto Kenyah Sarawak Kuching (PLKS) at Telang Usan Hotel on Saturday evening (Nov 28).
Gerawat said for instance, Yayasan Sarawak and Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF) would provide assistance of up to RM1,000 to pay the registration fees of Bumiputera students, particularly Dayak and Orang Ulu students, who managed to get into local public universities.
“Yayasan Sarawak provides loan assistance as well. DCF also offers full scholarships for Dayak and Orang Ulu students to enter top-ranking universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London.
“They have three slots available every year, which means Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu students who are eligible will each get one slot,” he said, adding that students can write in to DCF or go to their office at the seventh floor of Tun Jugah building to apply.
He added the conditions to get the scholarship are that students must obtain a CGPA of 4.0 in their STPM examination and must choose science and engineering courses at the universities.
“On top of that, Yayasan Sarawak also has a special allocation to help Dayak and Orang Ulu students to enter universities such as Swinburne University of Technology,” he said.
Therefore, he encouraged all Orang Ulu associations, especially those in Federation of Orang Ulu Association of Sarawak Malaysia (FORUM) to continue supporting and assisting students.
“We do not want our bright students to miss out on the opportunity just because of financial issues.
“If we don’t make a conscious effort to assist members of our community, then we will be left behind. So, make sure you (Orang Ulu associations) pay a lot of attention to the education of our younger generation, otherwise they will be left behind in the future,” said Gerawat who is also FORUM advisor.
Meanwhile, incentives and certificates were also presented during the dinner to six students who achieved excellent results in their PT3 and SPM examinations last year.
Also present was PLKS chairwoman Catharina Tipong Usang.
