Latest news with #FormSix
The Star
14 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Youth want answers on matriculation entry change
PETALING JAYA: The government's silence on the new matriculation entry requirement for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers has put the life of students on hold besides causing them a lot of frustration. Hafsah Yaseer, 17, from Petaling Jaya said any changes in grading should be announced long before the exams to prepare students on what they can achieve and target. She said even though matriculation is a fast-track programme costing less, the issue should not have been brought up at this time. 'I have appealed but I don't have high hopes. I'm currently applying to Universiti Malaya through Saluran Satu,' said Hafsah, who obtained 8As in total, including A+ and A- for SPM. 'I'm not sure if they truly understand our feelings or what we went through while studying for our SPM and looking for placements,' she added. As for a Johor Baru top scorer who only wants to be known as Foo, failing to get into matriculation has left her feeling regretful. 'I scored 9A+ and a merit point of 98, yet I still did not get accepted despite putting in all that hard work. Many of my classmates who got all As except for one A- also did not get in. 'I have submitted an appeal but I have not heard back from the Education Ministry. 'From what my seniors told me, it is tough for those who get in after their appeals are accepted because by then, about five weeks would have passed and the students will have to catch up on the lessons,' the 18-year-old said. Foo considered herself lucky because shortly after getting rejected, she received a full scholarship at a private university to study pharmaceuticals, which is her choice course. 'My classmates however are willing to put their life and future on hold, in hopes of getting in because of their family's financial situation. Not everybody can afford private universities as an alternative,' she said, adding that they also have to worry about living expenses besides tuition fees. Another SPM leaver Teng Chin Hoon, 18, from Johor Baru also voiced her frustration 'After receiving my SPM results of 3A+, 5A and 2A-, I felt that the possibility of entering matriculation was slim, especially after the Education Ministry suddenly changed the requirement of not recognising A-. 'They should have told us earlier,' she said, adding that she decided to enrol in Form Six after weighing her chances. The Education Ministry stated that matriculation applicants who were not offered a place may submit an online appeal until tomorrow. The results of the appeal will be announced on June 30. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong had criticised the Education Ministry's revised entry criteria, which no longer recognises A- as equivalent to an A. Under the new policy, only students with 10 straight A+ and A grades will be automatically offered matriculation places for the 2025/2026 session. Dr Wee said the change marks a major shift from last year's policy, which considered students with 10As and above for matriculation, following a commitment made by the Prime Minister. The Ayer Hitam MP said students had prepared based on last year's criteria, only to find the goalposts had shifted, a move he described as unfair. He added that MCA has received hundreds of appeals from students and parents who are confused and disheartened by the change.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- The Sun
Kedah JPN to monitor teacher couple in UPSI bus crash
NIBONG TEBAL: The Kedah State Education Department (JPN) has been tasked with monitoring the condition and welfare of a teacher couple and their two children who were injured in the fatal bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik, Perak. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the family of four, who were travelling in a Perodua Alza when it was reportedly rear-ended by the bus, are currently receiving treatment at Baling Hospital, Kedah. 'Their welfare is now under the ministry's supervision and immediate assistance will be provided,' she told reporters during a visit to Universiti Sains Malaysia's engineering campus for a Form Six student intake event today. The crash occured early Monday morning when a chartered bus carrying UPSI students from Jertih, Terengganu to Tanjung Malim, Perak, veered off course and collided with the Alza driven by 37-year-old Mohd Lutfi Radzi. Fadhlina also extended her condolences to the families of the victims, especially the UPSI students, describing the loss of life as a major blow to the future of the country's teaching profession. While the bus involved was privately chartered by students, she stressed that the ministry has strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place for student travel, including mandatory safety checks. On a separate matter, Fadhlina said the event today also marked the launch of the Form Six University Campus Education Programme, a pilot initiative jointly implemented with the Higher Education Ministry involving Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Under the programme, students will undergo 18 months of pre-university study in a university campus setting. 'A total of 100 places are offered at UKM and 60 at USM. Over 30 students have registered today and we expect more to fill the remaining places,' she said.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- The Sun
Kedah Education Dept to monitor welfare of injured teacher couple in UPSI bus crash
NIBONG TEBAL: The Kedah State Education Department (JPN) has been tasked with monitoring the condition and welfare of a teacher couple and their two children who were injured in the fatal bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik, Perak. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the family of four, who were travelling in a Perodua Alza when it was reportedly rear-ended by the bus, are currently receiving treatment at Baling Hospital, Kedah. 'Their welfare is now under the ministry's supervision and immediate assistance will be provided,' she told reporters during a visit to Universiti Sains Malaysia's engineering campus for a Form Six student intake event today. The crash occured early Monday morning when a chartered bus carrying UPSI students from Jertih, Terengganu to Tanjung Malim, Perak, veered off course and collided with the Alza driven by 37-year-old Mohd Lutfi Radzi. Fadhlina also extended her condolences to the families of the victims, especially the UPSI students, describing the loss of life as a major blow to the future of the country's teaching profession. While the bus involved was privately chartered by students, she stressed that the ministry has strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place for student travel, including mandatory safety checks. On a separate matter, Fadhlina said the event today also marked the launch of the Form Six University Campus Education Programme, a pilot initiative jointly implemented with the Higher Education Ministry involving Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Under the programme, students will undergo 18 months of pre-university study in a university campus setting. 'A total of 100 places are offered at UKM and 60 at USM. Over 30 students have registered today and we expect more to fill the remaining places,' she said.
The Star
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Students rattled by A- issue
ALOR SETAR: The Education Ministry's abrupt change to the matriculation entry requirement has triggered disappointment and anxiety among Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) high achievers, many of whom feel their hard work is being overlooked. SPM school-leaver Jason Teoh, 18, was elated when he scored 9As and immediately applied for matriculation. When his application was rejected, he submitted an appeal and is now anxiously awaiting a favourable outcome. 'It's very demoralising. Some matriculation colleges used to accept 9As regardless of A-, but with the new criteria, I'm rating my chances as low,' said Teoh. Priscilla Kim, 18, who scored 10As, was initially hopeful of securing a spot in matriculation. However, two of her grades were A-, and her application was also rejected. 'After reading about the qualification criteria, I now doubt whether my appeal will succeed. 'This is deeply disappointing. We should have been informed earlier, not after the exam results were released,' she said. 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. However, a new circular issued on April 30 now stipulates that only those with 10 straight As, comprising only A+ and A grades, qualify automatically for the 2025/2026 intake. In Johor Baru, KB Leetha, 18, who scored 1A+, 8As and 1A-, said the news was disheartening as it felt like students with A- were deemed not good enough. ALSO READ: Policy shift puts tremendous stress on students Although her application was accepted, she expressed concern for future students who may face greater challenges in pursuing higher education. Teng Chin Hoon, 18, opted for Form Six as she believed her chances of entering matriculation were slim, having scored 3A+, 5As and 2A- in her SPM. 'I think the ministry should have informed us about the policy change earlier so we could have mentally prepared ourselves,' she said. Meanwhile, Afif Hazimi Norazman, 18, took a more pragmatic view of the revised requirements. 'I believe this is to ensure only those who are truly qualified enter matriculation because it's not easy to study there. 'It's better to raise the bar so students don't waste their time or government resources,' he said. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said about 190 affected students have sought assistance from the party. He criticised the policy change, calling it a significant departure from the earlier assurances made by the Prime Minister last year.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
UKM, USM Chosen for STPM Pilot Project at Public Universities
PETALING JAYA: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have been selected for a pilot project of the STPM (Form Six) programme at public universities. In a statement, today, the Education Ministry announced that, in collaboration with the Higher Education Ministry, the programme will offer two fields of study — science and social sciences. Additionally last year's SPM leavers who qualify and have received an offer to enter Form Six, while meeting the specified requirements may apply for admission into the STPM pilot project at public universities from May 19 (tomorrow) to May 25 (Sunday). Admission results for the programme can be checked on June 3 via the link: It added that students who have applied for this year's Form Six education programme may check their placement status on the mentioned portal starting tomorrow, and are required to report on July 10 at their designated Form Six centres.
