(Front row, from fifth left) Vincent, Henry, Lu and other board of directors and the beneficiaries give the thumbs-up.
SIBU: The Wong Nai Siong Secondary School Foundation has greatly helped students pursuing further studies after graduating from high schools.
Its school board management chairman Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming said about 70 per cent of the graduates opted for further studies annually.
“Traditionally, students opt for further studies in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
“They also go to Australia, New Zealand, United States of America and England,” he said at the presentation of the foundation’s scholarship awards to 58 students at the school yesterday.
The foundation, established in 2011, has thus far disbursed RM4.3 million to 153 needy students.
The foundation chairman Dato Henry Lau Lee Kong and school principal Lu Yew Hiiung were also present at the function.
Vincent went on to say that graduates had a choice of over 800 higher learning institutes worldwide to study in.
According to the survey of the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) in 2016, among the 8,646 graduates, 6,854 opted to further their studies.
Vincent said 4,081 opted to study locally and 2,716 went overseas.
In Sarawak, of the 707 graduates, 221 went on to study within the country, 234 went overseas and 198 entered the work force, he said.
Most of Wong Nai Siong Secondary School students proceeded to Taiwan, China and Singapore to study while others went to England and Ireland.
“I hope those who receive the scholarship will work hard. I also hope that after their graduation, they will come back and contribute to the society.
“SM Wong Nai Siong, like other private institutions, has fought against the odds and challenges.
“Over more than half a century, they have struggled and overcame the difficulties with the help of the school management board, parents and the former students.
“And the students have excelled with flying colours.
“I hope the community will continue to walk with us to bring SM Wong Nai Siong to a greater height,” Vincent added.
Henry, meanwhile advised the beneficiary students to make full use of the scholarships to study hard in order to achieve a brighter future, and hoped they would return to contribute towards their alma mater after completing their studies.
“The aim of the foundation is to assist the needy students to enable them to further their education to a higher level. So utilise it fully for a brighter future,” he said.