KAJANG: MCA has raised concerns over the announcement that all remaining SPM top scorers would be offered a slot in their matriculation programmes of choice by August.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong questioned the lengthy wait as the students were at the losing end due to lost time.
“By the third week of August, the matriculation programmes would have started for seven weeks.
“Will the students be able to catch up and score in their academics and attendance?
“Their results are dependant on these factors, and both the students and parents are worried,” he said after delivering a keynote address at the Insap Economic Forum 2024 yesterday.
On Thursday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said all outstanding SPM holders who had yet to be accepted into their matriculation programme of choice would get a slot by August.
She said of the 4,877 10As students who applied for the 2024/25 matriculation programmes, 793 had yet to be accepted.
According to Dr Wee, the ministry also had yet to look into students who took only nine subjects and scored straight As.
“What will happen to them? Will they stand a chance?
“The government must not leave them out,” he said, adding that many students were worried that they might not get into their preferred courses.
“The student’s right to choose must be respected,” he noted.
Dr Wee also encouraged students who did not get a place in the government’s matriculation programmes to opt for Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT).
“Both UTAR and TAR UMT give full scholarships to all straight As students. I believe many other tertiary institutions also offer this,” he said.
