KUALA LUMPUR – The education and higher education ministries will coordinate to ensure students with 10As and more in their SPM exam will have placements either in matriculation or public universities.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir said there was no issue facilitating automatic placements as there were sufficient spots for the deserving students.
“The two ministries will work closely to provide the relevant information to the students about their placements, whether they are going with matriculation or Asasi (foundation) programmes in public universities.
“This allows the government to provide opportunities to all students who have achieved a certain level of excellence in their studies.
“Meanwhile, other straight-A students can still appeal for spots in public universities. They can go to the ministry’s office lobby (in Putrajaya) to do that,” he said at the Concorde Club meeting, which is a closed-door gathering with senior editors.
This comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement yesterday, where he said students with 10As and more in the SPM exam would have automatic spots in matriculation programmes.
Zambry also said high-achieving students who were offered multiple placements in matriculation and public universities would need to pick one.
“The prime minister’s announcement which applies to the 2024 intake is not unprecedented.
“This should not be politicised as it does not affect the quota for Bumiputera students.”
Similarly, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek yesterday lauded the prime minister’s announcement, saying it was an educational guarantee provided to all citizens, irrespective of background and race.
She added that the matriculation quota for Bumiputera students remained unchanged despite the announcement.
Earlier today, Anwar explained the automatic spots in matriculation programmes for all students with 10As and more as a move made to “reduce tensions” on a matter which occurred year after year for non-Bumiputera students. He made the explanation to civil servants in the Prime Minister’s Department during a monthly assembly. – July 1, 2024