Education Ministry Never Said A In Spm Not Excellent Fadhlina

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Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said her ministry never announced or issued guidelines saying an A- grade in SPM is not excellent.
Students with that grade can still apply for the government’s matriculation programmes, she said.
“Those who got A- can still apply and will go through the normal process. We never said that A- is not qualified or cannot enter matriculation. That is not true.
“We want this opportunity to continue to be given to all our children based on their merit and ability. Everyone will have their place, God willing,” she said at an event in Selayang, as quoted by Malaysia Gazette.
Education Minister Fadhlina SidekFadhlina also said this year’s admissions process into matriculation courses was among the smoothest and most organised.
On May 15, MIC senator C Sivaraj lambasted the minister over the purported classification of SPM A and A- grades as below excellent.
He said the new criteria stipulated that only students who achieve at least 10 As, consisting exclusively of A+ and A grades, qualify for automatic admission into government matriculation colleges.
Later, MCA president Wee Ka Siong asked how an A- grade would be classified if it was not in the same category as an A or A+.
Be fair to the majority
Meanwhile, Fadhlina clarified that matriculation applicants go through a merit-based assessment process, which takes into account involvement in sports and extra-curricular activities.
“It should be understood that 86 percent of applicants who qualified for matriculation are students who took nine subjects and got 9 As.
“Only 14 percent took 10 subjects and got 10 As. So we must be fair to the majority of these children,” she added.
At the same time, Fadhlina said students who attained excellent results, such as 10 A+ or straight As, will still be prioritised to enter matriculation programmes as per existing policy.
She also announced an increase in scholarships for excellent STPM students, from 300 to 500.
The scholarships are for excellent STPM students to continue their studies in the field of education, at public universities or teacher education institutes, she explained. - Mkini

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