Single university entrance exam requires careful study, says Education Minister
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said various education pathways such as STPM, STAM, Foundation Programmes, and Matriculation Programmes have been established to provide wider choices for SPM leavers according to their interests and potential.
"The implementation of the admission system to public universities is an important aspect in assessing students' potential comprehensively, taking into account the balance between academic excellence and holistic development.
"Each of these pathways has its study structure and curriculum to meet the diverse needs of students.
"Therefore, the assessment approaches used are also different, in line with the objectives and direction of the respective programmes," she said in a written reply to Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan).
Lim had asked Fadhlina whether a single common examination could be implemented for all students of STPM, Matriculation, and Foundation programmes applying for places at public universities, instead of the current practice of three different examinations, to establish a consistent and accurate basis for comparing performance aligned with excellence standards.
Fadhlina said the proposal to implement a single uniform examination for all these pathways indeed has the potential to streamline the admission system to public universities.
"Any changes must go through in-depth studies and comprehensive evaluations to ensure alignment with the Education Ministry's commitment to provide fair and quality educational access to all students, regardless of their background," she said.
On Nov 11, last year, it was reported that the Education Ministry was reviewing a proposal to introduce a unified entrance examination for matriculation and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) graduates seeking admission to public universities.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh had said that the move reflected the ministry's commitment to providing students with a clear and streamlined pathway to pursue higher education at public institutions.
However, he said that no final decision had yet been made on the proposal.
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