(From sixth left) Haris, Amirudin and Anfaal with the nine scholarship recipients. — KK SHAM/The Star
Building Selangor care economy prioritised at scholarship awards
A SELANGOR programme on lifelong learning awarded nine women scholarships to further their studies in various fields.
The funding will allow them to receive education at diploma, degree, masters and doctorate levels.
“Awarded by Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS), under its lifelong learning programme, the nine recipients are from the third cohort,” said state women and family empowerment, welfare and care economy committee chairman Anfaal Saari.
WBS acts as the implementing body for women’s empowerment programmes under the Selangor National Women and Family Development Standing Committee.
It also operates as a subsidiary of state strategic investment arm Menteri Besar Incorporated.
Present at the event at the Selangor state secretariat building in Shah Alam, were Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and state secretary Datuk Haris Kasim.
In 2024, WBS received a total of 122 applications, after which 21 recipients were shortlisted following two rounds of screenings.
The final round saw the nine being chosen.
According to information provided, for the first cohort, a sum of RM200,000 was allocated to 12 beneficiaries.
Ten pursued their studies at diploma and degree level at Open University Malaysia.
Another two pursued their masters at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
In the second cohort, another RM200,000 was allocated to 13 beneficiaries.
Twelve pursued their studies at diploma, degree and master’s level at Open University Malaysia while one did a doctorate at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
For the third cohort, a budget of RM269,540 was allocated.
“The scholarships awarded are mostly in fields of study that will contribute to the advancement of the care economy in Selangor, such as Health Sciences (Physiotherapy), Occupational Rehabilitation (Developmental Disabilities) and Guidance and Counseling Education,” said Anfaal.
Addressing recipients, Amirudin spoke on how the emphasis for women’s higher learning had now shifted towards courses that could offer better economic prospects.
This was unlike the past where training courses for women would focus on hobby-based activities such as beading, sewing and embroidery.
“In 2023, Selangor’s economy was worth RM400bil.
“Now, the challenge is not just to maintain this performance but to reach the RM500bil mark.
“I am of the view that for us to achieve this, the involvement of the female community, especially in the high-tech industry as well as in the executive levels of the public and private sector, needs to be improved,” said Amirudin.
Explaining that the programme’s effectiveness would be seen in the next four years, he added that the shortlisting criteria included character assessment to see which applicants were capable of finishing studies and had the spirit to uplift their lives.
As the programme’s aim was to narrow the economic gap, he said emphasis was given towards candidates’ plans on how they were planning to give back to their communities.
They also had to show strong interest and involvement in community work, especially where women empowerment was concerned.
“Of course, preference was also based on family background,” he said.
“If a candidate was from a rich family, then they would be able to fund her education.
“Our aim is to empower those who lack the income to do so as a way to improve their chances for a better future,” said Amirudin.
