What if your biggest achievement ended up working against you?
That’s what one SPM top scorer is feeling after being denied a scholarship, not because of bad results, but simply because their parents are no longer in the B40 group.
In a now-viral post on Threads, the Malaysian student poured out their frustration over how financial background seemed to outweigh academic excellence when it came to scholarship decisions.
“My parents worked hard, now I’m paying the price?”
The student didn’t hold back in expressing their disappointment. Despite achieving outstanding results, they were told that their parents’ income disqualified them from receiving any financial aid.
I don’t even know how to say it anymore. Is it fair for us, as children, to be punished for our parents’ success?”
“Our parents came from poor families and worked hard to live comfortably. But now, even when we score crazy good SPM results, we can’t get scholarships because of our parents’ income,” the student wrote.
The student also questioned the selection criteria, pointing out that many B40 students are prioritised for scholarships, while some high-achievers from M40 backgrounds even those with straight A+ are left with nothing.
We’ve worked so hard to score in SPM, and in the end, it’s not even about results, it’s about our parents’ salary,” they said.
“You’re not being left behind, others are being lifted up”
Netizens quickly chimed in, many reminding the student that scholarships are about need, not just grades.
One user gently reminded the student that B40 students often have no choice but to depend on scholarships:
“Even if you didn’t get a scholarship, your parents can still afford to send you to university. B40 students who worked just as hard as you don’t have that luxury. You still have choices. They don’t.”
Another added that what might feel like unfairness is actually a system meant to bridge inequality:
“Fair doesn’t mean equal. Your parents broke the poverty cycle. If they hadn’t been given the opportunity back then, you might be the one struggling now.
“A scholarship is a reward for you but for B40 students, it’s a lifeline.”
“M40 kids fall through the cracks too”
Still, others echoed the student’s concerns, saying that high-performing students from the M40 or even lower-tier T20 families are often left out of financial aid discussions.
“Not all M40s are okay. Many are stuck, not poor enough for aid, not rich enough to afford overseas education that can cost up to RM1 million,” one comment read.
“B40 students learn the struggle earlier”
Others called for more empathy and understanding from students who come from more privileged backgrounds even if that privilege is relatively recent.
“While you were stressing over your studies, B40 students were juggling part-time jobs, taking care of siblings, and trying to survive.”
“When you don’t get a scholarship, you get a loan. Then you’ll learn the hustle. B40 kids learn it much earlier.”
View on Threads
