Experts call for more matriculation colleges to address entry bottlenecks
KUALA LUMPUR: Experts have proposed the establishment of more matriculation institutions nationwide to address the recurring discourse on entry into the university preparatory programme.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) sociologist Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong said the government should adopt a single pre-university pathway, matriculation, and gradually phase out the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) route.
"With only one system, everybody goes through matriculation.
"If you have two systems, every year we'll face the same chaos, and it's not good for national unity. You are creating a double standard with STPM students," he said.
Teo said STPM had declined in popularity due to the length of the programme, the stigma associated with enrolling in Form Six, and its perception as being more difficult.
He added that not all schools offering Form Six were adequately resourced to support students in attaining the co-curricular points needed for university entry.
Echoing his views, UKM education sociologist Dr Anuar Ahmad said Malaysia needed more matriculation institutions to increase capacity.
He said that the issue was not the Bumiputera quota but the limited number of available spots.
"Every year, we talk about the same issue. The problem is insufficient places.
"We only have 17 matriculation colleges, 15 under the Education Ministry and two under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).
"We hope the government will add two or three more institutions so that children of all races who excel in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) can secure a place in matriculation," he said, adding that such expansion should be included in the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Anuar also proposed that all public universities establish their own foundation centres to increase the number of preparatory pathways.
"This way, we can increase access to university-level education," he said.
However, he added that schools offering STPM should also receive additional funding to enhance the programme and make Form Six an attractive option for SPM leavers.
On Monday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that all students who obtained 10As in the SPM, including those with A- grades, would be guaranteed a place in the matriculation programme.
She, however, affirmed that the 90 per cent Bumiputera quota would remain.
Two days earlier, Fadhlina said that students with 10As, including A- grades, would need to apply to matriculation institutions and would be assessed based on merit.
Last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also announced that all SPM candidates scoring 10As would be offered a place in matriculation colleges.
The matriculation programme was introduced in 1998. In 2005, the government opened it to non-Bumiputeras with a 10 per cent quota.
Debates over matriculation entry criteria have become a yearly issue, often revolving around merit and race.
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