SEPANG: The Higher Education Ministry will table a proposal paper to enable each higher education institution student own a notebook computer to the Cabinet, early next month.  

Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh said today the aim was to facilitate students' studies through the use of the computers. "The paper will outline details on how it can be done to make it a reality."

Among the ways considered were arranging financing for the purchase of the computers as part of the Higher National Education Fund Corporation study loan scheme or making students pay for the notebooks themselves, he told reporters after a dialogue with industry representatives.

If approved by the Cabinet, a programme called "One Student, One Computer" was expected to be launched in stages from July," he added.  

Shafie also said that his ministry would study a request by the private sector to extend the practical study period for students of higher educational institutions from the current 10 weeks to a year.  

The private sector felt that the longer period would help increase the students' skills and make them more marketable.  

However, he said that the matter had to be brought to the the National Higher Education Council as it involved the duration of their (students) studies.