MCA dismayed after 10A scorers fail matriculation bid
Published: Jul 6, 2024 5:03 PM
UPDATED 3.03PM | Added MAC Youth’s statement.
MCA president Wee Ka Siong has expressed disappointment after some non-bumiputera SPM top scorers failed in their appeal to enrol for the government’s matriculation programme.
This is despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement last week that all those who scored 10As or higher in SPM would be guaranteed a spot in matriculation institutes, regardless of race.
Wee said his office and MCA Youth’s office have been receiving calls from heartbroken parents whose children failed to make the cut after the outcome of matriculation enrolment appeals was revealed yesterday afternoon.
“Even though the prime minister had made an official announcement about the cabinet’s decision, there are still high-achievers who have failed to enter the matriculation programme. They are disappointed for the second time.
“I feel for the students as they are so disappointed when they have failed in their appeal attempts even though they scored 10As or 9As,” he said on Facebook yesterday.
This is despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement last week that all those who scored 10As or higher in SPM would be guaranteed a spot in matriculation institutes, regardless of race.
Wee said his office and MCA Youth’s office have been receiving calls from heartbroken parents whose children failed to make the cut after the outcome of matriculation enrolment appeals was revealed yesterday afternoon.
“Even though the prime minister had made an official announcement about the cabinet’s decision, there are still high-achievers who have failed to enter the matriculation programme. They are disappointed for the second time.
“I feel for the students as they are so disappointed when they have failed in their appeal attempts even though they scored 10As or 9As,” he said on Facebook yesterday.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
A day earlier, it was reported that MCA was assisting 173 students who sought MCA’s help to get a spot in the pre-university programme, including 69 who scored 10As.
Clear answer needed from PM
In a separate statement today, MCA Youth education committee chairperson Ong Chee Siang said only 23 of the students were successful in their appeal - all of them had scored 10As or more.
One student failed to make the cut despite having 10A+.
Ong urged Anwar to explain why so many have failed to enter the matriculation programme despite their score and the prime minister’s guarantee.
“MCA Youth hopes the prime minister can give a clear answer and explain what is the problem.
“Why has reality fallen short of those promises despite assurances from the education minister and higher education minister that non-bumiputera students with 10A will be enrolled without affecting the quota?
“To this day, students who only took nine subjects seem to have been forsaken by the education ministry. There is still no news on whether they qualify to enrol into the matriculation programme,” Ong said.
The matriculation programme is offered as an alternative to STPM for university entrance, with 90 percent of the programme reserved for bumiputera students.
Despite Anwar’s announcement, however, there is a lack of clarity on how the new policy will be implemented.
MCA had also criticised the new policy as being unfair to students who took fewer than 10 subjects.
A day earlier, it was reported that MCA was assisting 173 students who sought MCA’s help to get a spot in the pre-university programme, including 69 who scored 10As.
Clear answer needed from PM
In a separate statement today, MCA Youth education committee chairperson Ong Chee Siang said only 23 of the students were successful in their appeal - all of them had scored 10As or more.
One student failed to make the cut despite having 10A+.
Ong urged Anwar to explain why so many have failed to enter the matriculation programme despite their score and the prime minister’s guarantee.
“MCA Youth hopes the prime minister can give a clear answer and explain what is the problem.
“Why has reality fallen short of those promises despite assurances from the education minister and higher education minister that non-bumiputera students with 10A will be enrolled without affecting the quota?
“To this day, students who only took nine subjects seem to have been forsaken by the education ministry. There is still no news on whether they qualify to enrol into the matriculation programme,” Ong said.
The matriculation programme is offered as an alternative to STPM for university entrance, with 90 percent of the programme reserved for bumiputera students.
Despite Anwar’s announcement, however, there is a lack of clarity on how the new policy will be implemented.
MCA had also criticised the new policy as being unfair to students who took fewer than 10 subjects.
As a parent whose children sat for their SPM in the early 2000, I was confused and utterly annoyed when I had to experience our government's ruling of 'straight As' for a Form 5 school leaver to qualify for the PSD scholarships. My children were high achievers. I had the pleasure of driving straight to enquire from the PSD office in Putrajaya. Yes, an officer replied. 'Straight As' means a candidate had to score As in all the subjects he/she took in the exam. I think most or nearly all MRSM students took only 9 subjects compared to normal school students who might take up to 13 subjects or more. What about taking fewer than 9? Very few students would take 8 subjects. It was common for a student to take 10 subjects in a normal school, but I can't say how many subjects a Form Five student takes these days. When I was a student in the 1960s the maximum number of subjects a student would take was 8. Nine subjects was unheard of. What happens when a 10-subject student achieved 9 As and a B ? Well, he or she did not belong to the 'straight As' category anymore. That was what I was told by the PSD officer.. No wonder MRSM students were smart and they trod the cautious path. Their teachers must have advised them.
ReplyDeleteIn my days (just as yours), in order to get a credit one must pass each (at least 1 credit) of the 4 groups,
DeleteEnglish being the only one in 1 group, science in another group (Physics, Chemistry, Biology in another (for Science stream students which I was one), Maths in another (elementary, additional), and 4th group would be a mish mash of (geography, scripture for Christian schools, art, history etc) - Bahasa was in a special group by itself
I took English (compulsory) x 1, Bahasa (compulsory) x 1, all science subjects x 3, all maths subjects x 2, and finally Scripture and Geography x2 : total = 9
I was prohibited by the Principal from taking Scripture because I didn't take the subject in Form 3, thus might ruin the Christian school's reputation, wakakaka, and was instructed to take Art instead. BUt I couldn't draw and would face definite failure in that subject if I took it. I ignored the Principal's orders, fibbed to my classroom-Scripture teacher the Old Man okayed it, wakakaka, and took that subject. I did very well in my Scripture paper though not with distinction but with a high credit, wakakaka, Jesus saved me lah