By Aida Aziz
SUNGAI SIPUT: The Ministry of Higher Education’s (MOHE) Targeted Outreach Programme 2026 has identified the Orang Asli community as its fourth target group, as part of efforts to bring higher education information and opportunities directly to communities at the grassroots level.
The programme recently continued its tour in Perak, including visits to Pos Yum and the Orang Asli One Stop Centre (OAOSC) in Bawong here.
Perak Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Khairudin Abu Hanipah said the outreach approach was important to ensure Orang Asli children, particularly those living in remote areas, were not left behind in accessing opportunities to pursue higher education.
He said the programme’s implementation at Pos Yum and OAOSC Bawong demonstrated that geographical location should not be a barrier to accessing information and opportunities in higher education.
“Wherever our children are, whether in urban centres or remote areas, access and opportunities to pursue higher education remain widely open,” he said.
He said this when officiating the Orang Asli Targeted Outreach Programme 2026/2027 (Mai Hik ke Menara Gading) at Dewan Pandak Hamid, OAOSC Bawong.
Khairudin said efforts to expand access to higher education among the Orang Asli community were also being carried out through collaboration between the Perak state government, Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), Perak Education Department (JPN), Yayasan Sultan Azlan Shah (YSAS) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).
“Among the initiatives are guidance on UPUOnline applications, merit score calculations, determining suitable fields of study and the Counsellor on Wheels service to help students identify courses that match their potential,” he said.
He said exposure to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), short entrepreneurship courses and professional studies was also emphasised to enhance the skills and competitiveness of Orang Asli youths.
Meanwhile, UPSI Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun said the Perak programme was the fourth location in the 2026 Targeted Outreach Programme tour organised by MOHE through the Division of Admission and Student Affairs (BKPA), Department of Higher Education (JPT).
Raja Nor Safinas said the approach in Perak was implemented inclusively and comprehensively, covering higher education guidance, skills development and TVET, welfare and community services, as well as community and cultural heritage activities.
The two-day programme at Pos Yum and OAOSC Bawong also featured practical short courses such as manicure and stingless bee farming, alongside academic exhibitions and TVET-based practical activities.
The event also saw the symbolic presentation of offers for the Diploma in Teaching programme at UPSI to 25 selected Orang Asli participants, reflecting the higher education opportunities made available through the initiative.
