SEGAMAT: Many students from underprivileged families have managed to enter universities under the government’s Jelajah Pendidikan Keluarga Malaysia initiative, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The Prime Minister said that the programme, which was previously known as Jelajah Pendidikan Bumiputra, which started in 2016, had proven beneficial to students and was brought back this year.

       ‘‘The initiative was halted after Barisan Nasional fell and Pakatan Harapan took over the government.

       ‘‘Then Covid-19 happened and Barisan returned to power. ‘This year we are restarting this programme,’’ he said at an event here on Sunday (March 6).

       Since 2016, Ismail Sabri said a total of 160,374 students have managed to enter public and private universities, including vocational training institutions under the programme.

       ‘‘The programme aims to give a second chance to students who did not secure a place in public higher education institutions.’’

       Ismail Sabri said the students were given an offer letter on the spot following an admissions assessment review and computer test when they applied through the Central University Admission Unit (UPU) – a centralised platform that manages public tertiary institution applications in Malaysia.

       ‘‘This year, we are targeting 50,000 applications,’’ he said, adding that a roadshow promoting the programme was underway at 50 locations focusing on 90 parliamentary constituencies.

       With 401,000 and 470,000 students sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, Ismail Sabri said the new applications for this year would come mostly from these students.

       He also called on any public and private agencies, including foundations, to help students from hardcore poor families receive higher education.