Focus On Solutions Not Scapegoats Dap Youth Scoffs At Akmal

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A DAP Youth leader criticised Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh for attempting to use the race card in diverting attention from issues plaguing the centralised public university admissions system (UPU).
This comes after Akmal questioned whether the people will be alright with having a single-stream schooling system, following a student union’s urging of the government to abolish the matriculation system and use STPM results as the sole benchmark for entry into public universities.
“Vernacular schools are not the problem. Those schools are open to all races,” said DAP Youth director of university affairs Koh Ling Xian in a statement today.
“When they enter secondary level, all students, regardless of streams, are required to sit for the SPM examination.
“So, to equate the multi-stream schooling system with the polemics regarding the matriculation issue is basically comparing apples to oranges.”
Yesterday, Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president Tang Yi Ze urged the government to abolish the matriculation system and use STPM results as the sole benchmark for entry into public universities.
Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth president Tang Yi Ze“We stress that the STPM syllabus is more challenging and stricter compared to the matriculation programme. It is also recognised internationally.
“Yet, STPM leavers have to compete with a large number of matriculation students on the same platform, which results in a structural injustice.
“This is a form of systemic sidelining of STPM leavers,” Tang added.
Unimpressed, Akmal questioned whether Umany would agree if the government abolished vernacular schools.
“If you can’t agree, then don’t talk about abolishing the matriculation programme,” he said on Facebook.
Disparity causing resentment
On that note, Koh said the disparity between the matriculation and STPM systems is the cause of the current problems affecting university intake.
He also said the different grading system used for curricular and extracurricular activities results in STPM students often getting sidelined in the same application process.
“This results in our talents moving abroad to further their studies,” Koh mentioned.
The DAP leader emphasised that the issue was unrelated to race but about procedural justice to ensure all candidates compete using the same standards.
This, he added, would help place students in the right courses, minimise the sense of being sidelined, and optimise local talent development.
Koh also lauded Umno supreme council member Sharkar Shamsudin’s suggestion that STPM leavers be given a separate entry route to public university, without having to go through the UPU.
“As for DAP Youth, our stand is that we must move towards a streamlined public university entry system that is based on merit but also gives adequate protection for those in need, with a transparent appeal process in place.
“Our youths are just demanding a progressive and constructive policy, not scapegoats or sentiments,” Koh added.
‘Sidelining national assets’
Two days ago, Sharkar lamented that despite high-scoring STPM students being national assets, they often get sidelined due to technical problems, lack of information, and an inefficient course-matching process.
“And this results in many parents, teachers, and many in our society feeling disappointed.
“This is a huge loss when it comes to developing local talents,” the Pahang state assembly speaker told Utusan Malaysia. - Mkini

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