EDUCATION is arguably the most discussed topic in the country. Understandably so. Parents, students and teachers are all affected by decisions made by policymakers.
Lately, the merits of Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) versus matriculation as routes into public universities have become a hot issue.
Already, calls are being made to abolish matriculation in favour of STPM.
One such call was recently made by the Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth, arguing that there should only be a single benchmark for entry into public universities and that it should be STPM.
Others, including politicians, are advancing a solution of their own: a common university entrance examination.
Their argument is that such a common exam will be able to assess all entrants to public universities on the same merit-based standard.
To be frank, it would be hard to find a single pathway to universities around the world. Students have an array of choices: matriculation, STPM, diploma or foundation programmes.
But Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has made her ministry’s position clear: the matriculation system will not be abolished.
She has good reasons on her side. For sure, each pathway to universities has its merits and demerits. There is no exam in the world that is perfect. More important is to strive for improvement.
As Fadhlina says, the Education Ministry is working towards that in stages. Take STPM. Globally, it is well received. Given the limited university places in the country, acceptance by overseas universities is an important factor.
But it is not without its drawbacks. One such is, being exam-based, it encourages rote learning, leaving students with little to no deep understanding of concepts taught in classes.
In other words, they will not be ready for the working world. Perhaps this can be solved by some form of university education. Or technical education, as Malaysian employers would prefer.
Another drawback is that STPM takes 18 months to complete, with only one intake per year.
The matriculation system, like any other track to universities, has its pros and cons.
Start with the pros. Unlike STPM, it has a quicker intake cycle, meaning it gives students a faster track to the talent pipeline.
Time is an important factor for the students as they have to spend a minimum of four years — depending on the course they pursue — before they can expect a return on their investment.
University education isn’t as cheap as it used to be in the 1970s, even at public universities. As the Treasury’s coffers dry up, government funds to public universities, too, dry up as much.
Another advantage of the matriculation pathway is that it is less exam-based and more course-based, which makes students more university-ready.
Perhaps, the main disadvantage of the Malaysian matriculation track — at least to those who are keen on pursuing their degrees in universities overseas — is that it is not as globally accepted as STPM.
Be that as it may, it is always better to have two pathways, however much they may diverge.
Diversity in the system is necessary. If the number of seats is an issue, the authorities could consider increasing the number of students in both systems so students can choose based on their strengths.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
