“Why Are We Paying So Much?” Students Demand Explanation

Kampar, August 5 – Students are required to pay tuition fee even though they are undergoing the industrial attachment training, no exception for any individual.

Paying thousands of ringgit of tuition fee while students are attaching to the internship programme in the industry is always a controversial topic, as students and parents could not identify its rationale.

“I am not using any facilities in the campus, neither do I attend any classes nor sit for any examinations, “said Sanjey, 23, who is currently attached to The Star.

He added, “Perhaps the tuition fee is meant to cover the management, evaluation and traveling costs of the supervisors." “But even it was meant to cover the above expenses, isn’t the amount too much?” mentioned Sanjey.

“The internship allowance that student received is inadequate to cover the cost of living already, not to mention those unpaid interns,” said Devi, 54, Sanjey's mother.

The students who face bigger problems in this issues are the ones who did not apply for or ineligible to get PTPTN loans.

“My parents and I doubted what are those credit hours we are paying for,” said Lee Fong, 24, who had gone to industrial training in the previous semester.

“Fortunately there were only few credit hours, so the payable amount is considered acceptable,” Lee added.

The reporter contacted one of the university faculties to get more detailed information, however, the faculty officer declined to be interviewed.

Besides, it is less cost efficient for students undergo industrial attachment outside the region of Kampar to travel back to the campus, solely to pay the bill.

“I transferred the school fee to my classmate and she helps me to pay it at Division of Finance’s counter,” said Tony Lim who usually pay his bill at the department counter.

“I do not need to visit the counter physically as my parents will make the payment at Public Bank branches,” Renu said.

“Methods of payment are listed on the student bill,” said the UTAR Division of Finance’s officer, who does not want to be named.

UTAR students are allowed to make payment at Public Bank branches or through Public Bank’s Internet Banking Service, but these methods are applicable only when students pay the bill before the due date.

“Late payment can be made only at the counter of Division of Finance,” the officer added.

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