Govt spends RM252.3 million for MyBrain15

The Education Ministry has spent RM252.3 million for the scholarship programme for postgraduate studies, dubbed MyBrain15 Programme, as at Nov 30 this year.

The ministry's secretary-general II, Datuk Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang, said the schemes offered under MyBrain15 programme were MyMaster, MyPhD and MyIndustrialPhD.

"A total of 22,356 students received the scholarship under the MyMaster scheme, 4,048 students under MyPhD scheme and 242 others under MyIndustrialPhD.

"The government has allocated RM780 million under the 10th Malaysia Plan for the programme to achieve the target of producing 60,000 PhD holders by 2020, but so far, only 65% of the allocation were spent," he told newsmen on Monday.

Nevertheless, he said the ministry was confident to achieve the target to sponsor 40,000 MyMaster students, 5,000 MyPhD students and 500 MyIndustrialPhD by 2015 through the explanation programme and Customer's Day organised by the ministry from time to time.

"The ministry has received many applications for the MyBrain15 Programme, but most of them were rejected for several reasons, including the fact that the applicants could not attend full-time courses, besides being under-qualified," Zaini said.

Information on the MyBrain15 Programme can be obtained by contacting the MyBrain15 Unit at 03-8888 1616 or via the ministry's website at www.moe.gov.my.