PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed to allow candidates outside the national education system with a full Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) qualification to apply to certain public university programmes.
The Higher Education Ministry said the Cabinet meeting agreed on several decisions regarding entry pathways for students from tahfiz schools or institutions, private schools and Chinese independent secondary schools (SMPC) into public universities via the UPUOnline system.
Candidates who sit for Bahasa Melayu and History subjects conducted by the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (LPM) and recognised by the Education Ministry may be considered for certain public university programmes identified based on the suitability of the field of study and current needs.
For candidates from tahfiz schools or institutions, among the identified programmes are Diploma and Bachelor's Degree in Dakwah; Diploma and Bachelor's Degree in Al-Quran and As-Sunnah; Bachelor's Degree in Tahfiz Education; and Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Studies (Dakwah).
Meanwhile, for candidates from SMPC or with UEC, among the identified programmes are Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language Studies with Honours; Bachelor's Degree in Chinese Language and Linguistics; Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies; and Bachelor's Degree in Chinese Language with Education.
“This is based on merit calculations according to subject packages determined by the Education Ministry and subject to the general and specific programme requirements set by universities through a merit-based selection process,” said Higher Education director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman in a video statement on Thursday (May 14).
"The Higher Education Ministry remains committed to ensuring inclusive, fair and quality access to higher education for all qualified students to pursue studies at public universities in the country in line with the National Education Philosophy," she said.
"All applications will be processed based on the principles of meritocracy, academic qualification requirements and subject to the regulations and decisions of the University Senate," she said.
Azlinda stressed that the approach is part of efforts to strengthen access to higher education more inclusively without compromising academic standards and the quality of the national higher education system. - Bernama
