Latest news with #SijilPelajaranMalaysia
The Star
15 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.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Azura Aziz relieved that eldest son is finally a Malaysian citizen
KUALA LUMPUR: Singer Azura Aziz is relieved and grateful that her eldest son, Seiful Islam Ali, 22, affectionately known as Bubu, has finally obtained Malaysian citizenship after a lengthy process. In a recent interview with Harian Metro, Azura revealed the numerous obstacles she and her Egyptian husband, Cheb Ali, faced when their three Egyptian-born sons moved with them to Malaysia in 2017. "These problems arose from our lack of knowledge regarding the law," she explained. "Initially, we frequently travelled between Malaysia and Egypt. Our first two sons, Bubu and Safiyurrahman Ali, or Totti, were both born in Egypt and automatically acquired Egyptian citizenship as their father is an Egyptian national." Azura added that they later decided to prolong their stay in Egypt so their children could continue their studies at Al-Azhar University. "It was during that time that our third son, Nusratuddin Ali, or Mimo, was born." However, political instability following the Arab Spring forced the family to return to Malaysia in 2017. "That's when our difficulties truly began," Azura recounted. "Every year, we had to apply for student passes for the boys. They weren't eligible for textbook loans and were discouraged from participating in school activities." Azura and Cheb applied for Malaysian citizenship for their sons in September 2018. "After Bubu completed his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, things became particularly challenging," she said. "The Immigration Department informed us he could only remain in Malaysia if he attended a private university, which we simply couldn't afford." Good news finally arrived in July 2024, when the family received a letter from the Home Ministry confirming that their sons' applications for citizenship had been approved. Totti, 20, received his MyKad in January, while Bubu, 21, first had to relinquish his Egyptian citizenship. Currently, Bubu and Totti are studying at the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara), while Mimo is in Year Five of primary school. "Thank you to the government," Azura expressed.
The Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Sun
MOHE: 62,485 SPM holders offered places in polytechnics and community colleges
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 62,485 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders have received offers to pursue diploma, certificate, and foundation programmes at polytechnics and community colleges for the 2025/2026 Session I intake, through the UPUOnline application system. The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said that for the current session, a total of 2,288 students have been offered places to pursue the Foundation in Engineering Technology programme at 10 polytechnics nationwide. Additionally, the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (JPPKK) has offered 360 special needs students from Sarawak the opportunity to enrol in three engineering certificate programmes at Mukah Polytechnic, Sarawak. 'Meanwhile, 1,554 SPM (not current year) and non-SPM holders who applied through the MyPolyCC eForm were also offered places to pursue diploma and certificate programmes at polytechnics and community colleges,' it said in a statement. In addition, 43 candidates were offered places in five special certificate programmes at polytechnics, specifically designed for students with special needs with hearing and learning disabilities. A total of 3,861 candidates also received study offers with sponsorships from the Public Service Department (PSD), MOHE, and the My Brighter Future Yayasan Tenaga Nasional scholarship. The ministry added that those who wish to accept the offers must complete the verification process by June 25, 2025, via after which they can print their offer letters. The registration date for new students in the foundation programme is set for July 7, 2025, while registration for the diploma and certificate programmes will take place on July 27 and 28, 2025, at 36 polytechnics and 103 community colleges nationwide. 'For those who were unsuccessful or received certificate-level offers through the UPUOnline system, appeal applications can be submitted via it added. 'Meanwhile, those who applied through the MyPolyCC eBorang system may submit their appeal applications via it said.
The Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Sun
Over 62,000 SPM holders offered places at polytechnics
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 62,485 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders have received offers to pursue diploma, certificate, and foundation programmes at polytechnics and community colleges for the 2025/2026 Session I intake, through the UPUOnline application system. The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said that for the current session, a total of 2,288 students have been offered places to pursue the Foundation in Engineering Technology programme at 10 polytechnics nationwide. Additionally, the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (JPPKK) has offered 360 special needs students from Sarawak the opportunity to enrol in three engineering certificate programmes at Mukah Polytechnic, Sarawak. 'Meanwhile, 1,554 SPM (not current year) and non-SPM holders who applied through the MyPolyCC eForm were also offered places to pursue diploma and certificate programmes at polytechnics and community colleges,' it said in a statement. In addition, 43 candidates were offered places in five special certificate programmes at polytechnics, specifically designed for students with special needs with hearing and learning disabilities. A total of 3,861 candidates also received study offers with sponsorships from the Public Service Department (PSD), MOHE, and the My Brighter Future Yayasan Tenaga Nasional scholarship. The ministry added that those who wish to accept the offers must complete the verification process by June 25, 2025, via after which they can print their offer letters. The registration date for new students in the foundation programme is set for July 7, 2025, while registration for the diploma and certificate programmes will take place on July 27 and 28, 2025, at 36 polytechnics and 103 community colleges nationwide. 'For those who were unsuccessful or received certificate-level offers through the UPUOnline system, appeal applications can be submitted via it added. 'Meanwhile, those who applied through the MyPolyCC eBorang system may submit their appeal applications via it said.
Malaysian Reserve
a day ago
- General
- Malaysian Reserve
MOHE: 62,485 SPM holders offered places in polytechnics and community colleges
KUALA LUMPUR — A total of 62,485 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders have received offers to pursue diploma, certificate, and foundation programmes at polytechnics and community colleges for the 2025/2026 Session I intake, through the UPUOnline application system. The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) said that for the current session, a total of 2,288 students have been offered places to pursue the Foundation in Engineering Technology programme at 10 polytechnics nationwide. Additionally, the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (JPPKK) has offered 360 special needs students from Sarawak the opportunity to enrol in three engineering certificate programmes at Mukah Polytechnic, Sarawak. 'Meanwhile, 1,554 SPM (not current year) and non-SPM holders who applied through the MyPolyCC eForm were also offered places to pursue diploma and certificate programmes at polytechnics and community colleges,' it said in a statement. In addition, 43 candidates were offered places in five special certificate programmes at polytechnics, specifically designed for students with special needs with hearing and learning disabilities. A total of 3,861 candidates also received study offers with sponsorships from the Public Service Department (PSD), MOHE, and the My Brighter Future Yayasan Tenaga Nasional scholarship. The ministry added that those who wish to accept the offers must complete the verification process by June 25, 2025, via after which they can print their offer letters. The registration date for new students in the foundation programme is set for July 7, 2025, while registration for the diploma and certificate programmes will take place on July 27 and 28, 2025, at 36 polytechnics and 103 community colleges nationwide. 'For those who were unsuccessful or received certificate-level offers through the UPUOnline system, appeal applications can be submitted via it added. 'Meanwhile, those who applied through the MyPolyCC eBorang system may submit their appeal applications via it said. — BERNAMA
