Unisel to recognise UEC certificate

Azmin delivering his speech at the state assembly in Shah Alam

SHAH ALAM: State-owned Universiti Selangor (Unisel) will recognise the Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) beginning next year.

Mentri Besar Azmin Ali said the move was aimed at countering the brain drain problem which had become serious.

“Statistics show that 3,000 students finished their education with the UEC every year,’’ said Azmin when tabling the budget at the state legislative assembly Friday.

He added that the state government acknowledged the big role played by Chinese vernacular schools in developing human capital.

Students from 60 independent secondary Chinese schools sit for the exam formulated by the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), every year.

Under Selangor’s 2016 Budget, Tamil school students from the plantation sector will now have a chance to receive education in a conducive environment.

SRJK (T) Ladang Desa Coalfield will be developed as a residential school with a capacity for 500 students, said Azmin.

He added the expenditure will be borne by the Coalfield Plantation Workers’ Children Trust Fund.

He said RM4 mil will be channelled to the Selangor Public Works Department for the purpose of developing the school structure and buildings.

Azmin said the state government also planned to allocate RM1.5mil next year to help workers and former workers of the plantation sector shape their futures.