PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA - The government will continue to find ways to ease the financial burden of students in higher learning institutions and equip them for the job market. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government was serious in wanting to assist the students, as reflected in the recent move to reduce the administrative charges for the National Higher Education Loan Fund Corporation from three and five per cent to a flat rate of one per cent.

The government would study more steps to reduce or overcome their hardship, he added.

Khaled said the government would also continue to get the co-operation from the corporate sector to improve the quality of education offered by higher learning institutions.

He said through strong, strategic and integrated learning systems, young Malaysians would be able to master critical technologies and the knowledge to compete globally.

"These efforts would not only focus on academic excellence but also the social aspects, including high moral values," he said.

Khaled said this in his speech at the PNB Investment Quiz finals here yesterday. His speech was read by the ministry's deputy director-general Datuk Mohd Yusof Kasim.

The minister urged students to be more proactive and prepared in learning new knowledge, including in investment and financial management, now an important sector of the economy.

He thanked Permodalan Nasional Berhad for being an effective partner to the government in exposing students to the world of investments through the annual quiz.

At the finals yesterday, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman emerged champions, taking home RM8,000 and a challenge trophy.

Universiti Sains Malaysia and Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman came in second and third and received RM5,000 and RM3,000 as well as trophies.