IPOH: The government’s stance on recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) came about after Chinese independent schools adopted a more positive attitude towards the national education system, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said discussions to recognise the UEC had previously led to clashes due to differences between the Chinese independent school education system and the national education system.
“We’ve tried to discuss for decades. When I was the education minister, we faced difficulties in giving space (for discussions) because Chinese independent schools were largely detached from the national education system,” he said in his speech during the opening of the national-level Teachers Day celebration here yesterday.
“In the few meetings between leaders of the teachers’ association and me, they refused to even discuss in Bahasa Malaysia. That was 40 years ago.
“During the current meetings, all association representatives can speak in Malay,” he said, adding that more than 80% of those who sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia in Chinese independent schools can converse in Bahasa Malaysia.
On May 15, Anwar said the Cabinet had agreed in principle to recognise the UEC as an admission pathway to public universities.
This is provided that students pass the Bahasa Malaysia and History subjects in the SPM examination.
The same requirements would also apply to students from religious and international school streams.
Anwar also said that one must be proficient in Bahasa Malaysia to live in the country.
“If you want to be a Malaysian citizen, you must understand our history, the national Constitution, the history of independence, the history of past struggles, our battles with the British colonisers or the Portuguese before,” he added.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
