MARA President Suggests Creating Paid MRSM For Bumi Elites
MARA president Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki re-introduced a previously proposed plan to build MARA Junior Science Colleges targeted at the elite segment of society.
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Newly-appointed MARA chairman Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has suggested MARA Corp look into creating a Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) for the Bumiputera elites.
Based on his Facebook post, it’s believed the idea was proposed as a way for MARA to expand its investment and business opportunities.
Asyraf claimed that some parties have suggested the idea of a paid MRSM targeted at the elites and high-earners in society.
He also said parents from this segment of society have shown interest to send their children to MRSM although they could afford to send their children to study in elite private schools abroad.
Asyraf said these parents are willing to do so because MRSM has been proven to be a brand known for its unique and high-quality education.
However, he emphasised that the paid MRSM system should never be compromised in terms of its philosophy, orientation, and culture of education, including the Ulul Albab curriculum so that the quality and consistency of delivery are maintained.
According to Free Malaysia Today, then Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob suggested building paid MRSMs in 2016.
Ismail claimed he received lots of requests from high-earning parents who wanted to send their children to MRSM.
However, in 2018, the Pakatan Harapan government decided not to proceed with the proposal as it was seen as moving away from the original goal.
Netizen’s reactions regarding the idea of a paid MRSM for the elites were split. Some of them believe the “profits” could be re-invested to improve and maintain the other MRSM schools.
A netizen said it might encourage the rich and poor students to mingle, claiming that it’s not a possible situation in private schools.
Another person was amenable to the idea of elite MRSM but added that the fees must be on par with the school’s infrastructure. They also said the students must still meet the academic requirement to qualify as paid MRSM students.
Meanwhile, a netizen said the elite MRSM fees must match the private school fees to discourage these parents from sending their children to elite MRSM.
On the other hand, others pointed out that having an elite MRSM defeats the purpose of having MRSM in the first place since they’re all essentially the same as private and international schools.
Having a paid MRSM just for the elite society also furthers the gap between the rich and the poor.
MRSM was created by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) for bright Bumiputera students from local schools with underprivileged students given the priority to join MRSM schools.
i think this is actually not a bad idea? it can be applied mainly for the upper bracket of M40 and lower bracket of T20, considering our current income group definitions (tho i believe it needs to be updated).
— suhaila🧣 (@suhailayunuss) March 21, 2023
anyway, with this implementation mara can get more cash inflow and— https://t.co/hXpSETbCRA
Elok dibahaskan lebih lanjut. Secara positifnya sy melihat akan ada pergaulan antara generasi anak melayu kaya dgn anak melayu marhean. Melayu bandar dan melayu kampung. Pengalaman pergaulan ni tak akan dpt kat sekolah swasta
— LX IX (@Lord_MoSBY) March 20, 2023
This just doesn’t sit well with me.
— Maisarah Radhi (@maimaimai95) March 21, 2023
Idk, the educational gap between social classes besar sebenarnya.
Sekolah harian can also be performing schools, what?
A bunch of excellent, intelligent & successful adults I know are from sekolah harian. https://t.co/uynS9oX29G
@drasyrafwajdi nama pon maktab sains MARA. Tahu tak mara ni ditubuhkan atas dasar apa. Kenapa nak wujudkan golongan berbayar dan golongan tak berbayar dalam mara. Nak wujudkan jurang besar antara pelajar ke? “Mak bapak aku bayar kat skolah ni” waduh
— ラデン (@radinmikah) March 20, 2023
Cadangan yang tidak bernas! pic.twitter.com/l1NkeEFZTp
— شيدا محمد (@MSMYLFT) March 21, 2023
not a bad idea but fees cant be too expensive cos not on par with the infrastructure in mrsm. copy model KYS or KYUEM. org kaya kalau nk masuk pun kena ada min requirement academic kalau tak dia dh tak jadi elite institution
— . (@GrlFrgl) March 21, 2023
Boleh, tapi bayaran yuran tu biar sama mcm dia bayar sekolah private. Tindakan ni akan menyebabkan diorang taknak hantar ke mrsm dan secara halus utk tak bagi diorang masuk.
— Amirdukes 🇲🇾 (@AmirDukes) March 20, 2023
I rasa wujudkan mrsm berbayar utk golongan elit akan mewujudkan gap antara pelajar. Mrsm tu utk pelajar with brain.bukan utk anak orang kaya. Golongan elit ni lebih drp mampu nak provide good education for their children. Biar la mrsm tu kekal utk golongan yg layak.
— 🐝 (@bElleeeya) March 21, 2023
Buat apalah buat cadangan yang tak berfaedah. MRSM adalah khusus untuk B40 dan bahagian bawahan M40. Golongan pendapatan tinggi hanya berminat dengan program MRSM Bitara dan Ulul Albab. Dkt luar banyak sekolah swasta yang menyediakan seperti ini.
— Ahmad Frost (@Ferozan2573) March 21, 2023
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