KUALA LUMPUR, 17 JULY, 2011: The Information Communication and Culture Ministry will help National Arts Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara) students get loans from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).

Its secretary-general, Datuk Kamaruddin Siaraf said the ministry would discuss the matter with the PTPTN to find ways to speed up the process to enable needy students to obtain the loans.

"Only students from universities under the Universities and University Colleges Act are eligible for the PTPTN loans.

"Aswara was not set up under the Act, it was formed under its own Act, that is Act 53 (Aswara Act 2006)," he said at the orientation for new batch of Aswara students programme here today.

A total of 296 Aswara students will be pursuing diploma and degrees in music, theatre, dance, creative writing, film and video, and fine arts and animation.

Kamaruddin said beginning this year, Aswara students were eligible for educational loans from Bank Rakyat after Aswara qualifications were recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency early this year.

He said the ministry would also consider a proposal for works produced by Aswara students during practical training to be screened or broadcast over RTM.

- Bernama