Wong King Yii
KUCHING (Sept 11): Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak has urged the Ministry of Higher Education to introduce a unified pre-university examination and grading system to address longstanding disparities in university admissions.
Its treasurer, Wong King Yii, said this call was made in light of a recent parliamentary reply which revealed a drastic decline in university placements for Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) students.
“This is not a statistic to be brushed aside, but a direct blow to thousands of hardworking students, especially those from the B40 community who depend on education as their only ladder out of poverty.
“STPM is internationally recognised and held in the same regard as the GCE A-Levels. Yet, even perfect scorers in STPM are too often denied their preferred courses,” he said in a statement today.
Wong argued that matriculation, despite being shorter at just one year compared to STPM’s 18 months, applies a far more lenient grading system.
This, he said, results in an influx of top scorers that effectively squeezes out STPM candidates who endure a tougher climb.
“For B40 families, this is devastating. Apart from the wealthy who can afford private universities, and those who missed out on matriculation simply because they were short of one A in their SPM, the only pathway left is STPM.
“But when STPM itself places them at a disadvantage, the path out of poverty is effectively blocked,” he stressed.
Citing the entry requirement for a law degree at one of Malaysia’s most prestigious public universities, Wong noted that while a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.30 appears fair on paper, matriculation students meet this benchmark with relative ease due to lenient grading, whereas STPM students must endure a far steeper and more demanding curve.
“The playing field is far from level, and those who suffer most are the B40 students, whose future opportunities are unfairly cut short,” he added.
According to Wong, 16 per cent of matriculation students scored a perfect 4.0 CGPA, compared to just 3.09 per cent of STPM students.
In the 2023 intake, an overwhelming 97.6 per cent of medical course placements went to matriculation graduates, leaving only 2.39 per cent for STPM holders.
“For B40 families who pinned their hopes on STPM, this is nothing short of heartbreaking,” he said.
He pointed to South Korea as an example, noting how education there is seen as a powerful weapon to transform lives.
He cited the late President Roh Moo-hyun, born into a poor farming family, and former President Moon Jae-in, the son of refugees who grew up in poverty, both rose to the presidency through a fair and accessible education system.
“Their stories prove that education can break the cycle of hardship and reshape a nation. Malaysia must provide the same weapon of change for its B40 children,” he said.
Wong emphasised that choosing STPM should not mean choosing disadvantage, but rather resilience, merit and opportunity.
He thus called for a unified pre-university examination and grading system to ensure fairness across all pathways, eliminate systemic bias against STPM, and guarantee equal success to higher education.
“Without such reform, we risk entrenching inequality and crushing the very dreams of those who need education the most,” he warned.
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