Joint Statement Made by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

 April 26, 2019

Increase in Matriculation Seats Is Partial in Planning

Review of the Implementation Is Urged by Dong Zong

As pronounced by the Minister of Education Dr Maszlee, the cabinet had decided to maintain the matriculation distribution for all ethnic groups, viz., 90 percent reserved for Bumiputera and 10 percent for non-Bumiputera; concurrently, the overall seats for matriculation course would be increased from 25,000 to 40,000. Learning this, Dong Jiao Zong is confused and found the decision unacceptable and thinks the entire decision process was hastily and partially made as it is research and analysis wanting. To increase the seats without holistic study and ruminations in essence belies the educational profession. In view of this, a review appeal is forwarded and it is hoped that the practice will be deferred.

Since Independence, the enrollment system for national universities has been all the while discriminating and thus resulted in intense rivalry upon unequal footing between matriculation and Form Six candidates. We believe, the Pakatan Harapan government needs to show political will for reform, that includes bold implementation of reformative measures such as the repeal of the tertiary studies quota system (merely a meager 10 percent opened to non Bumi Putra) practiced by the former government and the eventual free enrolment for all ethnic groups. We request the Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU) and national universities to disclose the criteria for intake and extant admitted seats for public trust. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Education should review the unjust intake guidelines, abandon the quota system and replaced them scientifically with a mechanism which intakes based on merits, social involvement as well as demographical distribution. In this vein, we believe, will be fair, open and transparent towards the aspiring candidates. The effort put into by the Ministry of Education on the reinvention of the matriculation course for more intakes will be backfired by the unjust practice of the tertiary studies quota system as it discourages candidates from taking the course.

Lastly, we appeal the Ministry of Education to defer the hasty decision of increasing seats for matriculation; we also hope the government will listen to public opinions and views prior to any implementation; rather, the government can always professionally make good use of rational data and reliable analysis to convince the general public in its decision.