Form Six revamp overdue

The Star

19-07-2025

STPM students to benefit from varsity entry and funding
PETALING JAYA: The government's plan to bring all pre-university pathways under the Higher Education Ministry is long overdue, say education stakeholders.
Tun Fatimah Form Six College Parent-Teacher Association chairman Mak Chee Kin said the change is much needed to address long-standing issues.
'Form Six students and schools have not been accorded the same treatment as other pre-university pathways – especially in funding, manpower and university entry.'
Mak noted that when Form Six is combined with mainstream schools, students are often overlooked by the management.
'The teacher in charge of Form Six is just known as another senior assistant, with no power to make independent decisions as mainstream comes first for the principals.'
He added that Form Six students often face more challenges in securing university placements despite having strong results.
'Even top Form Six students are being sidelined for university entry, while priority goes to other pathways like foundation (Asasi), diploma and matriculation.'
Mak urged the government to separate Form Six from mainstream schools and upgrade them into proper pre-university centres with sufficient facilities and teachers.
Educationist and former Universiti Malaya professor Tan Sri Dr T. Marimuthu agreed that streamlining would help ensure consistent quality across different pathways.
'There are so many courses of different lengths – matriculation, foundation, STPM – so bringing them together will help improve quality and coherence.' .
However, he said clear planning was needed if Form Six, which is still mostly run in schools, were to be placed under the Higher Education Ministry, to ensure equitable access for all students, especially those from low-income families.
'The only thing I'm worried about is the B40 students who are studying Form Six in schools.
'It's easier for them than going to a college or university, which would involve more expenses,' he said.
Marimuthu suggested that the ministry help ease this transition for disadvantaged students.
'If there is an economic problem, especially for the B40 group, the ministry can support them with hostels or a stipend,' he added.
Both Mak and Marimuthu said the move could level the playing field for students if implemented well.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir revealed a plan to streamline all pre-university pathways during the 'In Person with Doc Zam' session, livestreamed as part of Universiti Malaya's Week-of-Welcome for the 2025/2026 academic session on Thursday.
He said implementation was expected either next year or the following year.
The Higher Education Minister was responding to a student's question on why foundation studies were under his ministry while Form Six was still under the Education Ministry.