Latest news with #UPUOnline
The Star
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Deserving students priced out
Cause for concern: Dr Wee (centre) showing a list of courses run by several public universities with higher tuition fees offered through the open entry route during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur. With him are (from left) MCA Youth national exco Tay Kok Wea, Wanita MCA Beliawanis chief Ivonne Low Yi Wen, Wanita MCA deputy chief Tee Hooi Ling and Wanita MCA Selangor Beliawanis bureau chief Joclyn Leong Fong Yi. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: The rising reliance on direct or open entry routes into public universities is drawing criticism for creating financial barriers that exclude deserving students, especially those from underprivileged and middle-income backgrounds. 'We must re-evaluate this system when public universities begin to act like private institutions, moving away from their noble goal of helping bright students, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds, succeed,' MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said at a press conference yesterday. He said the issue now extends beyond Universiti Malaya (UM), as other institutions such as Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Utara Malaysia are also adopting similar practices. Dr Wee said the way these open channels operate is concerning, as it prioritises financial capability over academic merit, undermining the foundational ethos of public education. On Tuesday, Dr Wee highlighted UM's sharp fee increase under its Saluran Terbuka Universiti Malaya direct admission channel. For the 2025/2026 session, fees for medical and other critical courses soared by 67.1%, rising from RM299,200 to RM500,000. In contrast, students entering via the government-subsidised UPUOnline channel pay only RM15,000 for the same programme. Dr Wee noted that many parents had contacted him to share their concerns after he brought attention to the UM case. 'Their children applied through the UPUOnline system, only to receive an acceptance offer contingent on paying up to RM300,000 through the open channel. 'This financial burden is insurmountable for most families, turning what should be a joyous occasion into one of despair,' he said. Dr Wee stressed that public universities are funded by taxpayers, with Parliament approving annual budgets to cover staff salaries and operational costs. While acknowledging that the funding may not be sufficient for all development expenses, he said this should not come at the expense of deserving students who qualify through the UPUOnline system. Citing a previous parliamentary reply, Dr Wee said 19% to 40% of public university placements now come from open channels, highlighting a systemic issue that could erode the very foundation of Malaysia's public education system. 'I firmly believe that UPUOnline should remain the primary and most important channel for enrolment in public universities. 'This ensures admissions are based on merit rather than financial ability, thus promoting social mobility and allowing underprivileged students to transform their lives through quality and affordable education,' he said. The current trajectory, he warned, risks turning the education system into an elitist one, where only the financially privileged can access quality education. Dr Wee said the total cost of completing a medical degree at a public university has surged from about RM300,000 to over RM500,000, exceeding the fees charged by some private institutions. 'Similar hikes of 20% to 30% have been observed in other professional courses like law, raising questions as to whether public universities still prioritise talent development or have shifted towards a quasi-private model. 'While direct admissions can exist, public universities should expand their intake instead of using slots meant for UPUOnline students,' he said. Dr Wee urged the government to establish a royal commission of inquiry to review these practices. 'We cannot allow financial capability to replace academic merit in determining university admissions. 'The government should intervene immediately to prevent further inequality in access to higher education. 'It should remain a public right, not a privilege,' he said, calling for the open channel intake to be halted.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
High public uni fees pricing out deserving students, says Dr Wee
KUALA LUMPUR: The increasing use of direct or open entry routes into public universities is raising concerns over high costs that are progressively pricing out deserving students from underprivileged and middle-income backgrounds. "We must re-evaluate this system when public universities begin to act commercially, deviating from their original noble goal of ensuring that bright students—especially those from low-income families—are allowed to succeed," said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong at a press conference here. The MCA president highlighted the growing trend of public universities offering courses through open channels at exorbitant tuition fees. "This issue extends beyond Universiti Malaya. Other universities like USM, UKM, UPM, UTM, and UUM are following similar practices. "The shift towards these open channels is concerning, as it prioritises financial capability over academic merit, undermining the foundational ethos of public education," he said. On Tuesday (June 24), Dr Wee highlighted the sharp increase in UM's medicine and other critical field degrees fees for the 2025/2026 intake under its direct admission channel, Saluran Terbuka Universiti Malaya (Satu), which rose by 67.1% to RM500,000 from RM299,200 the previous year. In contrast, students admitted through the UPUOnline channel, which is government-subsidised, pay only RM15,000 for the same programme. He questioned if this stark fee disparity discourages students from lower-income B40 and M40 groups. Dr Wee said that he received overwhelming feedback from parents who shared their distress after highlighting the UM case. "Many of their children applied through the UPUOnline system, only to receive an acceptance contingent upon paying up to RM300,000 via the open channel. "This financial burden is insurmountable for most families, turning what should be a joyous occasion into one of despair," he said. Dr Wee emphasised that public universities were funded by taxpayers, with the annual budget approved by Parliament specifically to cover the salaries of chancellors and staff, and to maintain the operational needs of these institutions. While acknowledging that the funding might not be sufficient for all developmental expenses, he said this should not come at the expense of deserving students who qualify through the UPUOnline system. According to a previous Parliamentary reply, Dr Wee said 19% to 40% of public university placements are now allocated through these open channels, revealing a systemic issue that undermines the foundational ethos of public education. "I firmly believe that UPUOnline should remain the main and utmost channel for enrolment in public universities. "This ensures admissions are based on merit rather than financial ability, thus promoting social mobility for underprivileged students to turn their lives around via quality and affordable education." He also warned that the current trajectory risks transforming the education system into an elitist one, where only financially privileged students can access quality education. Citing an example, Dr Wee said the total cost for completing a public university medical programme has soared from approximately RM300,000 to over RM500,000, surpassing fees at some local private universities. "Similar hikes of 20% to 30% have been seen in other professional courses like law, and this casts doubt on whether public universities still prioritise talent cultivation or have shifted towards a quasi-private model. "While direct admissions can be implemented, public universities should expand their intake rather than using slots meant for UPUOnline students," he said. Dr Wee called on the government to establish a royal commission of inquiry to review these practices guided by learned educationists, emphasising the need to uphold the role of public universities in fostering talent and offering upward mobility through education. "We cannot allow financial capability to replace academic merit in determining university admissions. The government should intervene immediately to prevent further inequality in higher education access," he said, adding that the open channel intake should be halted. "Our public universities should remain bastions of opportunity, where students are admitted based on their abilities and potential, not their financial standing. "I hope the government takes decisive action to stop this trend and safeguard the future of higher education in Malaysia. It should remain a public right rather than becoming a privilege," he added.
Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
MCA calls for RCI on public university dual admission channels
Published on: Friday, June 27, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 27, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: MCA president Wee Ka Siong said some public universities charge prices as high as their private counterparts for the same courses, making education even more inaccessible for the less fortunate. Kuala Lumpur: MCA has urged the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry to review and reform the admission channels of all public universities. At a press conference today, MCA president Wee Ka Siong pointed out that several public universities have followed Universiti Malaya's lead in offering two enrolment options for undergraduate students – through the UPUOnline system managed by the higher education ministry, and an alternative open channel. Wee said UM introduced the open channel in 2018 through its 'Satu' pathway as a strategy to increase revenue and strengthen its financial sustainability. He said students enrolled through the public universities' open channels are offered 'priority access', but need to pay the full tuition fees charged. Some public universities, he said, charge prices as high as their private counterparts for the same courses, making education even more inaccessible for the lower-class. 'If that's the case, then what is the point of Parliament approving the operating expenses of these public universities?' he said. Wee said many of these universities openly advertise this alternative route as an 'easier' means of admission compared to the more competitive UPUOnline system, which is unfair to B40 and M40 students who cannot afford it. About 19% to 40% of placements in public universities are now allocated to students who apply through the open channel, he said. On Tuesday, MCA called for a suspension of UM's Satu intake for the 2025/2026 session until the higher education ministry reviews its admissions mechanism, following claims of structural inequality. The party released a position paper on the matter, in which it said the apparent selectiveness in UM's student admissions raised questions about meritocracy in the process. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
3 days ago
- General
- The Star
More than 150,000 SPM school leavers offered IPTA spots
A bright future: A file photo of students of Chung Ling High School queuing up to obtain their SPM result slip at the school in Ayer Itam, Penang. — KT GOH/The Star PUTRAJAYA: A total of 150,557 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 school leavers have been offered places at public higher learning institutions (IPTA), according to the Higher Education Ministry. It said the number represents 67.33% of the total 223,624 applications received through the UPUOnline system. 'Of the total, 86,589 applicants were offered places at public universities, 42,058 at polytechnics, 20,427 at community colleges and 1,483 at institutions under the Mara Higher Education Division. 'A total of 17,693 applicants received offers under the special pathway comprising 16,189 from the B40 group, 590 persons with disabilities, 593 athletes and 321 Orang Asli,' the ministry said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported. The ministry also said that 43 applicants from institutions under the Social Welfare Department were offered places at IPTA. 'Student admissions were based on the principle of meritocracy, with all qualified candidates ranked from the highest to the lowest merit score,' it added. A total of 349 academic programmes were offered this year comprising 41 certificate-level, 55 (foundation), 252 (diploma) and one bachelor's degree programme. Applicants who did not receive an offer may submit an appeal via UPUOnline until 5pm on June 25.
The Sun
19-06-2025
- 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.
