Answer for Oral Question PL228

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dayang Chong Chin Yee

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG CHONG CHIN YEE requested MENTERI PENDIDIKAN to state the measures to protect prospective students from fraud relating to overseas scholarships, university admissions and youth development or exchange programmes before they provide personal information or make payments, including whether a centralised verification mechanism will be introduced.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pendidikan

To protect prospective students from fraud relating to overseas scholarships, university admissions and youth development or exchange programmes, the Ministry has put in place 3 main measures.

First: Prospective students who intend to pursue their studies, particularly overseas, are advised to check with the Majlis Kebangsaan Pengiktirafan Kelulusan (MKPK) before accepting an offer or making any commitment. The MKPK is the official reference body for checking the recognition status of institutions, programmes and qualifications both locally and overseas.

However, it should be clarified that the MKPK’s role is limited to matters relating to academic recognition and does not extend to verifying that each offer is free from fraudulent elements.

Second: Prospective students may refer to the Jabatan Pengurusan Biasiswa to obtain information and advisory services relating to overseas scholarships as an effort to verify the offer. The Jabatan Pengurusan Biasiswa disseminates information on overseas scholarships officially received from foreign governments, institutions or overseas agencies through the official channels of the Ministry of Education, including its website and social media.

For university admissions as well as youth development or exchange programmes, prospective students should verify the information directly with the institution, sponsor, ministry, agency or official organiser responsible for the offer or programme concerned.

Third: Before providing personal information or making payments, prospective students must request verification from the institution concerned through its official contact details. Students are also advised not to provide sensitive information such as copies of identity cards or passports, bank account details, passwords or verification codes to any party before the identity of that party and its communication channel have been verified.

Regarding the proposed centralised verification mechanism, at present, reference and advisory functions are carried out through official channels according to their respective areas. The MKPK is the official reference body for the recognition of institutions, programmes and qualifications, while the Jabatan Pengurusan Biasiswa provides information and advisory services relating to overseas scholarships.

Members of the public may obtain advisory services directly from the Urus Setia MKPK and the Jabatan Pengurusan Biasiswa at the Pusat Perkhidmatan Setempat or One-Stop Centre, Ministry of Education Headquarters Building. However, verification of the authenticity of an offer must still be carried out with the relevant official institution, sponsor, organiser or agency.

The Ministry of Education will continue to strengthen the dissemination of information through its official website and social media, while increasing awareness among students and parents through career guidance programmes, roadshows and advisory services relating to study and scholarship opportunities.