Matriculation admissions: MCA Youth submits appeal to Education Ministry
Photo: AZLINA ABDULLAH /The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth has submitted an official appeal to the Education Ministry over this year's matriculation admission process, where over 400 SPM high-achievers had sought the party's help after failing to secure matriculation spots.
Four of these students had also scored A+ and A in 10 or more SPM subjects.
MCA Youth central committee member Ong Chee Siang ( pic ) said 413 complaints from SPM leavers were handed to the Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh's assistant in Putrajaya on Wednesday (June 4) morning, including academic transcripts, performance breakdowns, and analytical reports.
He said a total of 255 of the 413 students had met the previous admission qualifications, scoring all As in their SPM, but failed to secure a spot based on the current unclear and inconsistent guidelines.
The Education Ministry, on April 30, had released a circular stating that only students with 10As comprising A+ and A in all subjects would be given an automatic offer to enrol in the matriculation programme for the 2025/2026 session.
Previously, SPM students with 10As and above were guaranteed a place in the matriculation programme, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in June last year.
Ong said the sudden change to the entry requirements, inconsistency in policy and unclear guidelines have left many in limbo.
He said according to the party's data, the number of appeals into matriculation has surged by 2.4 times, from only 173 in June 2024 to 413 in the same period this year.
'Among the 413 applicants, four students obtained straight A or A+ in 10 or more subjects.
'One student achieved 9 A+ in all subjects, 14 students scored 9 As or A+, and 17 received a mix of As and A- across 9 subjects,' he said.
He cited an example of twin sisters who both scored 9 As and 1 A- and had nearly identical co-curricular points, but one received a matriculation offer and the other did not.
'If two students have similar SPM results but only one secures a spot in matriculation, something isn't right.
'We are puzzled why an A- is now considered insufficient when previous ministry documents — such as a 2009 circular — clearly state that A- is classified under A2 and should be considered as an 'A',' he said.
He said the ministry failed to provide a clear and timely admission guideline on the automatic admission for straight A students, which was promised to be released by July 3 last year.
Ong also questioned the short deadline for the 2025 intake and appeal, which has caused concern among parents and students.
'Matriculation intake appeals close on June 21, but orientation starts just two days later, on June 23.
'Classes begin on June 27, leaving very little time to process appeals or admit students who were initially rejected.
'We're not sure how the ministry can manage all this so quickly. Last year, some students only got in weeks before the first semester ended,' he said.
MCA Youth legal expert Teoh Tuck Wah said when things are suddenly changed without warning, the ministry can be opened to be legally challenged.
He said MCA Youth is urging the Education Ministry to publish clear rules for matriculation admission, including whether A- grades are still accepted and to give advance notice before changing policies.
'We ask the ministry to act quickly and fairly. Education should never be handled with uncertainty,' he said.
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