MELAKA: Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) has taken steps to support a financially-stricken student’s dream of becoming an engineer by waiving her first-semester fees and providing her with a monthly allowance.
18-year-old Nabilah Zainuddin had been offered a place at UTeM to pursue a diploma in manufacturing engineering. However, due to her family’s financial constraints, she was unable to accept the offer.
UTeM Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Massila Kamalrudin explained that the university made a special effort to assist Nabilah after learning about her financial difficulties and her inability to continue her tertiary education. On Monday (Aug 7), Dr Massila visited Nabilah and her parents at their home in Alai.
Nabilah’s father, 54-year-old Zainuddin Hassan, recently underwent heart surgery and must make regular visits to the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur for follow-up treatment. Additionally, both Nabilah’s parents have been diagnosed with another ailment recently.
“This forced Nabilah to put her ambition of pursuing tertiary education on hold,” Dr Massila said.
As a support measure, UTeM has agreed to waive Nabilah’s first-semester fees, amounting to RM914, and provide her with a monthly allowance of RM500. This financial assistance will enable her to become a student at UTeM’s Durian Tunggal campus.
Nabilah, the second of four siblings, expressed her gratitude to UTeM for helping her achieve her ambitions. Despite the challenges her family has faced, she has always aspired to become an engineer. She hopes to continue her education and earn a degree.
“I wish to see my parents retire peacefully once I start working,” Nabilah said. Her father was overjoyed to see the university’s top official visiting their home.
Nabilah promptly registered as a student for the course on the same day.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
