Government allocates RM179.5 million for High-impact Student Programmes

• Emphasis on holistic education to enable students to meet tomorrow's employment and societal demands
• New task force programme hopes to provide employment of at least 75% of graduates within six months from graduation

Next year, the government will invest a total of RM179.5 million to two high-impact programmes that will improve entrepreneurship, development of students and employability of graduates.

The Student Development programme, according to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, aims to improve students' development holistically - mind, spiritual and moral character - which will thereby help enable good transformation within the family, community and nation.

He also said the government will establish a Graduate Employability Task Force which will be chaired jointly by the Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).

This programme to be launched in December will help students, both professional and skilled, secure jobs. They hope that at least 75% of students get suitable employment within six months from graduation.

There are currently over 44,000 young people in Malaysia who are not connected to work.