KUCHING: DAPSY Sarawak treasurer Wong King Yii has appealed to the Ministry of Higher Education to review the pre-university system to ensure fairer opportunities for STPM students, particularly those from B40 families.
He said while STPM is internationally recognised and equivalent to the GCE A-Levels, its students often face disadvantages compared to matriculation graduates, who benefit from a shorter programme and a more lenient grading system.
“Choosing STPM should not mean choosing disadvantage. It should mean choosing resilience, merit, and opportunity,” Wong said.
He cited recent statistics showing that in 2023, 97.6 per cent of medical course placements were offered to matriculation students, while only 2.39 per cent went to STPM candidates. Wong expressed concern that such an imbalance risks limiting the aspirations of B40 students who depend on education as their ladder out of poverty.
Wong suggested that the ministry consider establishing a unified pre-university examination and grading system to create a more level playing field across all entry pathways. He said this would help ensure that opportunities in higher education are allocated more equitably, regardless of the route students take.
By Connie Chieng