Struggling for B40 East Malaysian students to secure admission in prestigious universities, asserts parliamentarian
In the education landscape of Malaysia, a significant disparity has been observed between two pre-university pathways - the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and the matriculation programme. This discrepancy, particularly evident in university admissions for competitive courses such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and law, has raised concerns, especially among B40 students from Sabah and Sarawak who largely depend on STPM for social mobility.
In 2023, only 2.39% of medical students admitted were from STPM, while the majority came from matriculation[1][2]. Matriculation, a nine-month programme, admits a much larger proportion of students into these competitive courses compared to STPM, which requires 18 months. This disparity is further aggravated by the fact that nearly 72% of STPM students are from B40 families[2].
The academic outcomes also show a stark contrast: 16% of matriculation students achieve a perfect CGPA compared to only around 3% of STPM students, widening the admission gap[2]. This disparity has led to calls from MPs like Sim Tze Tzin for the government to give STPM results higher weightage and address this issue of equity to ensure fairer university access[1][2].
Sim Tze Tzin also urged the government to treat STPM students more fairly in university admissions and suggested the formation of a task force to "save STPM" from being the last choice[1][2]. The matriculation programme, on the other hand, is race-based with quotas favoring Bumiputeras and is administered by the Ministry of Education. STPM, regulated by the Malaysian Examinations Council, is internationally recognized and comparable to the British A-Levels[3][4].
Despite this, matriculation remains the dominant pathway for public university admissions, and the government maintains that matriculation is not inferior and remains widely accepted locally and internationally[1][5]. There is ongoing discussion about a potential unified university entrance exam for all pre-university streams (STPM, matriculation, foundation), but the Education Ministry cautions that such changes require careful study due to differing structures and assessments[5].
In conclusion, B40 students from Sabah and Sarawak who take STPM face considerable challenges in gaining university admission to competitive courses compared to matriculation students. The matriculation route is shorter and currently favored for admission quotas, creating concerns over social mobility and fairness for STPM students, prompting political and public calls for policy reform[1][2][3]. The issue remains a topic of ongoing debate and potential policy change in Malaysia's education sector.
[1] The Star Online. (2023, March 1). Matriculation students outnumber STPM students in medical schools. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/01/matriculation-students-outnumber-stpm-students-in-medical-schools
[2] The Edge Markets. (2023, March 1). Matriculation students outnumber STPM students in medical schools. Retrieved from https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/matriculation-students-outnumber-stpm-students-medical-schools
[3] The Malaysian Reserve. (2023, March 1). Matriculation students outnumber STPM students in medical schools. Retrieved from https://www.themalaysianreserve.com/2023/03/01/matriculation-students-outnumber-stpm-students-in-medical-schools/
[4] Malaysian Examinations Council. (n.d.). Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia. Retrieved from https://mec.org.my/stpm/
[5] Bernama. (2023, March 1). Education Ministry cautions against unified university entrance exam. Retrieved from https://www.bernama.com/en/business/news.php?id=1987116
- The government should reconsider the weightage of STPM results in university admissions, as B40 students from East Malaysia, particularly Sabah and Sarawak, are disproportionately affected by the current disparity between STPM and matriculation.
- The Malayan government should address the issue of equity in university access, given the stark differences in outcomes between STPM and matriculation students, and ensure fairness for all pre-university pathways, such as education-and-self-development programmes.
- The significant disparity observed in university admissions for competitive courses, where matriculation students outnumber STPM students, highlights the need for political reform, particularly in the education sector of Malaysia.
- The Malaysian Examinations Council should collaborate with the government and other educational institutions to devise strategies that promote justice and equal opportunities for STPM students in their pursuit of higher education.
- The ongoing debate about a potential unified university entrance exam for all pre-university streams is a positive step towards ensuring fairness in admission processes, and the government should consider this option carefully while taking into account the differing structures and assessments among various programmes like general-news and politics.
