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“If students who achieved the perfect scores are not given places, then something is wrong with the system.”

R. Nadeswaran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

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4 December 2017

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14 August 2015

Slightly better Google translation

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WHEN YOU’RE ONE OF THAT 1%, IT’S NO CONSOLATION!

Star

Saturday August 3, 2013 MYT 7:33:12 AM

Only 1% of ‘perfect scorers’ failed to get into varsity

By KAREN CHAPMAN

PETALING JAYA: Only 1% (or 39 out of 3,584) of students who obtained a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 failed to gain a place in public universities for the 2013/14 intake.

The remaining 3,545 students, who obtained what is considered the “perfect score”, were offered places in public universities, said the Education Ministry, which expressed its concern over the top scorers who failed to secure any offer.

“The 39 will be given priority to enter public universities based on vacancies, in line with the Cabinet decision.

Only 1% of ‘perfect scorers’ failed to get into varsity

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On July 29, the MCA met with Muhyiddin.

Chua said in the meeting with Muhyiddin, MCA had proposed the following solution:

• That places in public universities, especially for medicine, pharmacy and dentistry, are increased to allow placement for those who scored CGPA 4.0; or
• If this is not possible, to provide scholarships for them to pursue their desired courses in private universities;
• That places be offered to all students who scored CGPA 3.0 and above; and
• That a uniformed marking system be implemented for co-curricular activities for both STPM and matriculation students.

He added that the MCA is also willing to participate if the government sets up a special committee to improve the public university intake system.

Malaysiakini

149 students who scored all As (cumulative grade point average 4.0) in the Sijil Tinggi Pendidikan Malaysia (STPM) and matriculation last year, were not offered a spot in the courses they applied for at public universities.

According to the MCA, 18 were not offered a place at all.

They were among the 368 STPM, matriculation and diploma students who had brought their cases to the MCA, and whose plight is now in the hands of Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

In a statement today, MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek said that MCA was informed in their meeting with Muhyiddin on July 29, that the relevant agencies will contact the students on the matter in two weeks.

“MCA sincerely hopes that the government will take measures to ensure a more transparent system for intakes into public universities to prove that the BN government is serious on promoting meritocracy and plugging the brain drain by grooming our own talent in the our own country,” he said.

Nearly 150 top students not given courses they chose

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“These seats should have been given to those better qualified applicants being denied entry,” he added, alluding to the running controversy involving 18,000 students with 4.0 Cummulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) who were denied entries in public universities this year.

Free Malaysia Today

For years now there has been rumblings of poor quality doctors and now the public and academia recognise these graduates to be from Malaysian universities.

KOTA KINABALU: The growing murmurs of concern that local medical graduates lack the ability to perform their expected duties was underscored by Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam’s statement of doctors lacking “clinical competency”.

Subramaniam in explaining complaints against three doctors in Penang having acted in a racist manner had said the situation was instead a case of “poor communications skills and lack of clinical competency” among others.

But the fact remains that hospitals and private clinics in the country are leery of taking in locally trained medical doctors and there is growing consternation among the public about the quality of health service they are receiving.

Some of those with knowledge about the calibre of local medical graduates said there is cause for concern.

A leading educationist here, who declined to be named, alleged that it has become more and more prevalent that some of Malaysian medical schools have admitted students with inferior academic qualification.

Speaking to FMT, he said: “Some colleges seem to have relaxed some academic requirements.

“I for one have come across bumiputera students with inferior qualification in medical schools, including in UMS.

“At the end of examinations, professors had to prop them up by giving remedial classes just to give extra marks so that they don’t get kicked out. It’s an open secret (in the university academia),” he said.

The professor went on to add that in reality, these students were “not cut for medical service” and should be in other programmes where they can thrive.
…

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/30/poor-quality-doctors-in-gods-service/

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GERAKAN CALLS FOR A REVOLUTION IN UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMS!

Free Malaysia Today

Gerakan calls for ‘unified’ varsity entrance exam

As long as there are two entry paths – STPM and Matriculation – there will always be suspicion, said the party’s Education Bureau chief Lau Chin Hoon.

KUALA LUMPUR: Is it time for the Ministry of Education to seriously consider having a common university entrance exam as a long term solution to the problem of top scorers not obtaining places in local universities?

Gerakan Education Bureau chairman Lau Chin Hoon certainly thinks so on the basis that the present dual system for entry, namely the STPM and matriculation, has become a source of discontentment for some despite a more merit based intake.

“A 4.0 CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) in matriculation and a 4.0 CGPA in STPM is simply not on the same level. In terms of parameter procedure they are two entirely different examinations.

“That is why, we should standardise to a single entrance exam.
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He said without a unified entrance exam people would always perceive there to be a lack of transparency in the selection process as there were no immediately available percentages of intake from each system.

“If there is a unified entrance examination, people can accept the rejection of their applications.

“There is no doubt that certain places should be reserved for those with socio-economic disadvantage but such an exam will ensure greater transparency,” added Lau.
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His views were supported by Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Dr Denison Jayasooria who agreed that Malaysia should introduce one common entrance examination while ensuring that those with socio-economic disadvantages were also given opportunities to enter public universities.

“It should be either matriculation or STPM, not both. The alternative could be funding them to pursue the courses they want in either a public or private university or even overseas, just like the UK voucher system,” he said.

Bernama

Gerakan calls for ‘unified’ varsity entrance exam

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WHEN YOU HAVE  WORKED AS SMART AS YOU CAN AND AS HARD AS YOU CAN, AND GAINED THE PERFECT SCORE, A CPGA OF 4.0, YOU EXPECT TO BE REWARDED.

HOWEVER, EVERY YEAR, WITHOUT FAIL, THE SYSTEM, OR THE PEOPLE WHO MANAGE IT, DASH YOUR HOPES.

WHY IS IT THAT YOU CAN’T GET TO STUDY THE COURSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN?

MANY REASONS ARE GIVEN FOR SOMEONE WITH THE PERFECT SCORE, A CPGA OF 4.0, BEING DENIED A PLACE TO STUDY MEDICINE OR A COURSE OF THEIR CHOICE AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.

Among the most pathetic is this: her name sounded foreign and Christian.

See the Free Malaysia Today article in

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/16/christian-name-reason-to-reject-top-student/

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Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba), P Sivakumar, “In the 1970s, Indians got 10 percent despite the existence of only three universities but now with 27 universities, we only get 4 percent.”

Malaysiakini

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s pledge to the Indian community is not reflected in the student intake for public universities, said the Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba).

In view of this, Miba president P Sivakumar (left) urged MIC and Hindraf to make a stand on the matter.

He said both had promised the Indians, especially the poor, that their future would be bright if they voted for BN and that Najib was sincere with regard to his “nambikei” (trust) pledge.

Sivakumar pointed out that Hindraf also claimed that Najib had endorsed education upliftment for the Indians with additional places for students.

“But what transpired under Najib’s ‘nambikei’? Last year, the Indian intake was 2.5 percent or so and this time it is 4 percent.

Miba: Najib’s ‘nambikei’ not reflected in student intake

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Lim Kit Siang ‏@limkitsiang 23h

All taken for a ride >10yrs! Who responsible? http://goo.gl/v8dm1u  Wee: Varsity intake system ‘more quota than quota’ – LeeWayLoon (Mkini)

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AT LAST, IT IS OUT IN THE OPEN!

This is what former deputy education minister, MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong, says: There aren’t enough places for Chinese and Indian students with a CPGA of 4.0 because the percentage for Bumiputeras has gone up!

Malaysiakini

Although the federal government had replaced the ethnic quota system with the merit system for university intake in 2002, the poor intake of Chinese students shows it was actually “more quota than quota”, said MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong.

According to Wee, the intake of Chinese students for eight major courses in public universities has been declining in recent years.

“From 26.2 percent in 2011, it dropped to 25.3 percent in 2012 and 20.7 percent this year,” said Wee.

The eight major courses were Medical, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Law and Accounting.

However, the intake of bumiputera students for these eight courses this year reached 70.2 percent.

Wee: Varsity intake system ‘more quota than quota’

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Malaysian Insider
Cabinet directs Education Ministry to probe varsity selection issue

DON’T EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THIS!

Read this and you will know why…

Dr Subramaniam said there were students with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 who wanted to do medicine but universities could only take in selected numbers due to limited seats.

He said the majority of eligible top scorers were given places in local universities, and only about 30% of those failed to either gain entry or courses of their choice but they could appeal.

“The Cabinet will look into how to place them in private universities if their appeals are unsuccessful,” he said, but cautioned there was no discussions on scholarships for such students.

Cabinet directs Education Ministry to probe varsity selection issue

IN SHORT, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SELECTION PROCESS

THE PROCESS WILL BE REPEATED NEXT YEAR, AND THE YEAR AFTER, AD INFINITUM.

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Too many holes…

By TAY TIAN YAN
Translated by DOMINIC LOH
Sin Chew Daily

The failure of a four straight A’s STPM student to gain access into a local public university only shows either or both of the following:

1. There are problems with the admission system of public universities that even the best -performing students are excluded.

2. There are problems with the STPM examinations that even the top students are not good enough to make it to public universities.

Perhaps the Cabinet could try to get a solution within days, such as by increasing the admission quotas for government universities or provide scholarships for such students to further their studies in local private colleges or foreign universities.

I am no soothsayer but such remedial measures were adopted in the past and will most likely be put into use again this year.

As a matter of fact, these measures hardly resolved the problems of majority of students nor address the problems of the system.

It is like using the plugs to cover up the holes, and indeed we need quite a number of plugs to cover the holes arising from the system. However, the number of plugs available often fall short of the number of holes present.

And with the passing years, more and more holes are appearing and we will never have enough plugs to cover them up.

The biggest problem of the admission system is the quota, which is very much evident in public universities. But weirdly, the ratio always fluctuates without a standard yardstick.

We used to have some kind of compromise for 55% of bumi students versus 45% of non-bumis, but this is definitely not the best solution, nor is it compliant wit the principle of meritocracy. But since it has been achieved through compromise, it has to be accepted as fait accompli.

If 45% of the places in public universities are reserved for non-bumis, then Chinese should get at least 35%. To the puzzle of many, only 20% of Chinese students have been admitted this year.

The first thing the PM and education ministers should do is to get the UPU and chancellors of government universities to provide the relevant figures and the root of problem.

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/88948

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Malaysia Chronicle

S’pore is laughing at us, they are waiting to steal our top talent

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July 18, 2013
UPDATED: July 18, 2013 10:51 am

Chai Yee Lin, a straight-A scorer in the STPM, had been hoping to further her studies in medicine or dentistry in a local public university of her choice.

The teenager was sorely disappointed when she found out that she was only offered a place in Universiti Malaysia Kelantan to do veterinary science.
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Adding salt to the wound, Chai, who was hoping to support her family, later learnt that  a friend with lower scores was offered dentistry at Universiti Sains Malaysia.
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The Straits TImes reported that university entry has been a long-standing issue in the country, where racial quotas, favouring Malays and other bumiputeras, were used to determine entry into public higher-learning institutions.

The quotas were removed in 2002, and entry is now up to the discretion of higher education authorities.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/straight-as-but-chai-still-gets-varsity-blues

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Malaysiakini

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy has revealed that so far five qualified non-bumiputra students from Penang have failed to make it to local public universities despite being top scorers.

Ramasamy said this was “the tip of the iceberg” as there may be more cases of students in a similar plight who have yet to approach his office for help.

The students who did approach him, he added, were two Chinese Malaysians with 4As in STPM, where one of them had applied for Medicine but was not offered a place. Another applied for Pharmacy but was offered Architectural Science in Universiti Malaya instead.

Ramasamy said three other Matriculation students – one Chinese Malaysian and two Indian Malaysians – scored a 4.0 CGPA but were either not offered a place or given a course for which they had not applied.

Out of the three students, one did not get an offer to enter a public university, another applied to do Chemistry but was given Industrial Biology, while another applied for Medicine but was instead offered to do Medical Engineering.

Both offers were for places in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Plight of five Penang students facing varsity intake woes

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Published on Jul 16, 2013

MCA wants the government to resolve the problem of top scorers without places in local universities.

Top scorers with no university places

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Star

Wednesday July 17, 2013 MYT 9:01:24 AM

Top scorers appeal cases after not being offered any courses

KUALA LUMPUR: They are among the brightest students in the country and yet were deemed not good enough for local public universities.

Eight students who scored cumulative grade point average of 4.0 were not offered any courses at the public universities despite successfully submitting their forms to enter the universities.

They are among the 108 appeal cases that MCA has received from students who sat for the STPM and matriculation programme since the issue was highlighted last week. Of the total, 55 have 4.0 CGPA.

Top scorers appeal cases after not being offered any courses

Also read

1 MCA: Govt must explain why so few university seats given to Chinese students

2 Top scorer’s excitement doused by varsity’s offer

For EXCUSES for not admitting those with perfect scores: USM: Applicants may have failed admission interview

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If students who achieved the perfect scores are not given places, then something is wrong with the system.

Sundaily

PM, cabinet intervention an insult to administrators

PETALING JAYA (July 16, 2013): The prime minister is a busy man focusing on taking the nation forward with hundreds of issues on his mind. Like a captain, he delegates authority and power to his lieutenants to ensure the ship is sailing on course. But if the technician slacks in the engine room, is the captain expected to roll up his sleeves, pick up the tool box and fix the boiler?

This is precisely what the prime minister has been compelled to do on the issue of places for students who scored good grades in the matriculation/STPM examinations.

The PM’s soothing words will bring some comfort for the hundreds of students whose applications were either rejected or were not offered disciplines of their choice.

In a tweet today, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said: “I know some were disappointed to not get place at uni (university), but don’t give up. (I) will discuss at cabinet this week how to best help these students.

The cabinet which meets today will discuss the issue and provide immediate relief to anxious students and their parents. However, its role must be extended to finding a permanent “fix” to a recurring problem.

The cabinet’s intervention and the PM wading into this issue and offering solutions is an insult to those administrators who were entrusted with processing the applications.
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How did such an anomaly come about? Was it because of a computer glitch? Were there human errors? Or was there some form of discrimination as alleged by certain quarters?

Whatever caused it, it must be identified and a solution must be found so that there is no repetition.

PM, cabinet intervention an insult to administrators

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“Depriving qualified students, including those with a CGPA of the maximum 4.0, is not only a waste of top talent but will also serve to drive our best and brightest overseas.”

Malaysian Insider

Get it right, or we’ll lose our best and brightest students, says DAP

By V. Anbalagan
July 15, 2013

Its secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng (pic), said such a body was needed as the education ministry had failed to ensure qualified students were allotted places.

“As the public has lost confidence in the professionalism of the ministry, an independent body such as an international auditing firm should be appointed instead to ensure that no qualified student loses out.”

He said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today that the education ministry and political parties should not play the race card in this issue. Instead, they should focus on the students’ qualifications and merits.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/get-it-right-or-well-lose-our-best-and-brightest-students-says-dap

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Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari says the issue is not about students from certain races getting places.

“What is worrying is that there are Malaysian students who are getting top results and are not getting places in local public universities. That is a scandal in itself,” he said.

When it comes to top scorers, Zairil says, they have to be given places in the courses of their choice – that cannot be disputed.

The Sundaily

Meritocracy must rule, say politicians

PETALING JAYA (July 15, 2013): The verdict is unanimous – meritocracy must rule when it comes to admission into public universities.

Politicians on both sides of the divide and even educationists say that students scoring the perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) scores in their Matriculation examinations or the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia must be allowed to enrol in courses of their choice.

Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, who has been in the forefront pushing for educational reforms, says someone with perfect scores should have some bargaining power.

“What is important is that meritocracy has to take precedence because hard work has to be rewarded. Students with a 4.0 should be able to get what they want – it is a perfect score. Something definitely has to be done about this,” she said

MIC’s Higher Education Bureau has already received at least 14 complaints that students with the perfect scores were not given places to study in the much-sought after disciplines like medicine and dentistry.

Bureau chairman Mahaganapathy Dass said MIC was in the process of compiling the documents before submitting them in an appeal to the Education Ministry within a week.

“What is strange is that all their applications were rejected despite having the highest scores. There is something wrong with the system.

Meritocracy must rule, say politicians

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“Our department was approached by numerous low income parents and students whereby those candidates have achieved a full 4.0 CGPA yet they are unable to pursue the faculty of their choice in one of the 20 public universities available.”

Malaysiakini

Opaque selection process for public universities has caused distrust among non-bumiputera students, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy.

In a press release today, Waythamoorthy said the student admissions department (UPU) ought to inform the public of the grades obtained by students to qualify for certain courses.

“Most crucially with regard to critical courses, as pertaining to those candidates who had obtained the maximum grades should be laid bare for public scrutiny.

“This transparency will serve to allay the doubts and distrust of the affected non-bumiputera students and their anxious parents,” he said.

He said that such transparency will allow the next batch of students to have more clarity on how best to maximise their chances of securing a course of their choice.
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Of late, pre-university students of Indian descent have complained that despite obtaining top marks, they were denied a seat in a course of their choice.

Describing this situation as “absurd”, Waythamoorthy said bumiputera students had many exclusive paths to gain access to public universities, while middle and low income non-bumiputera families can only depend on public universities.

Public varsity intake not transparent, says Waytha

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