PUTRAJAYA: The new policy to allow students from private education system to enter public universities (IPTA) does not mean compromising the national education policy or recognising other systems, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (pic).
The Higher Education Minister said the national education policy remains unchanged, with the main requirement for entry into IPTA still based on the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
“Yesterday, when the government made the decision to open up access, it was not about granting recognition (to other systems). We will not change; we will not recognise other systems.
“Whether you are from any stream – international school, SMPC (Sekolah Menengah Persendirian Cina), religious school or any institution not following the national curriculum – you must follow our system,” he said in his speech at the 2025 excellent service awards of the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Director-General Prof Datuk Dr Azlinda Azman said the new admission framework is not a full, unrestricted pathway into IPTA, JAAYNE JEEVITA reports.
She said the initiative was to widen access, not to recognise external education systems or open all programmes without conditions.
“This is about expanding access, not recognition.
“There is no recognition for the Unified Examination Certificate’s (UEC) syllabus,” she said in a special press conference yesterday held to address concerns regarding the ministry’s announcement that the Cabinet had approved new public university admission pathways for students from tahfiz, international schools and UEC leavers.
The first route, she said, is for candidates with a full SPM certificate, covering six core subjects: Bahasa Melayu, English, Mathematics, History, Science, and Islamic or Moral Education.
These applicants can apply through UPUOnline and will be assessed based on SPM merit, programme requirements and university criteria.
The second route is a new special pathway for candidates without a full SPM certificate but who have taken Bahasa Melayu and History under the national examination system administered by the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (LPM).
“For religious stream students, this includes programmes such as 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),” she said.
She added that universities involved in Chinese language-related programmes include Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). UM offers Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language Studies with honours, Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese Language and Linguistics, and Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies; UPM offers Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language Studies with honours; while UPSI offers Bachelor of Chinese Language with Education.
Other universities involved in the special pathway include Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), depending on programme suitability.
“Applications for this special pathway will be handled directly by universities starting June 30, 2026,” she said.
She said all admissions under both routes remain subject to merit, programme requirements, and university senate approval, including interviews and competency assessments where necessary.
Responding to criticism from the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), she said admission conditions are set independently by university senates.
On whether UEC and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) are treated similarly under the merit system, she said both are fundamentally different and are assessed separately by universities.
“There is a big difference between UEC qualification and STPM qualification,” she said.
