Selangor exco in charge of education Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad believes the government should scale back on providing scholarships for students to study abroad, in favour of local varsities.

He said the policy was relevant in the past but the country has now built up the capacity of local varsities.

“Back in the 1970s, we didn’t have enough higher learning institutions (IPT) in the nation, so we sent many of our students to study abroad.

“Today we have plenty of IPT in the country. Isn’t it better for us to save that money by spending it on local institutions instead?” Nik Nazmi told a forum on free education and Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) last night.