Suspicion; Not Mere Apprehension.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Tuesday the government was aware that the reintroduction of the co-curriculum criterion would cause some concern among those who applied for places in local universities for the 2006/2007 academic year. He said applicants, however, must realise that the intake criteria were not new as they had been used since 2002 to replace the previous intake system that centred on high academic excellence.
"We expect some reaction. We know that those applying for places in local universities will be a bit distressed by the change. We have considered all aspects of the matter and informed the Cabinet about it a month ago," he said. The 2006/2007 academic year enrolment at the local public institutions of higher learning will be based on 90 per cent academic and 10 percent co-curriculum merit.
He said his ministry would find out why students who had good grades could not enter local universities. "I want to find out why they were rejected, but so far we have not received any complaints from those who were denied entry into local universities," he added. BERNAMA
****Sorry minister, the public, especially the non-Malays, are not just a little concerned or a bit distressed. They are downright very, very suspicious of this move. They feel it is a different way of reducing the number of non-bumis so that more bumis can be given places in the more prestigious courses at the expense of their chilldren and wards.
They have had very bad experiences over the years and I can safely say that the ministry of education and by extension the government seriously lacks credibility regarding education issues. It will take more than just a reassurance from you to assuage their deep feelings and suspicions.
I have no answers except to say that only by genuine positive action and not mere words can you hope to convince a public fed up with the drama year in and year out. By all means give the Malays their due but please don't sacrifice brilliant kids who are not Malay on the altar of expediency.
"We expect some reaction. We know that those applying for places in local universities will be a bit distressed by the change. We have considered all aspects of the matter and informed the Cabinet about it a month ago," he said. The 2006/2007 academic year enrolment at the local public institutions of higher learning will be based on 90 per cent academic and 10 percent co-curriculum merit.
He said his ministry would find out why students who had good grades could not enter local universities. "I want to find out why they were rejected, but so far we have not received any complaints from those who were denied entry into local universities," he added. BERNAMA
****Sorry minister, the public, especially the non-Malays, are not just a little concerned or a bit distressed. They are downright very, very suspicious of this move. They feel it is a different way of reducing the number of non-bumis so that more bumis can be given places in the more prestigious courses at the expense of their chilldren and wards.
They have had very bad experiences over the years and I can safely say that the ministry of education and by extension the government seriously lacks credibility regarding education issues. It will take more than just a reassurance from you to assuage their deep feelings and suspicions.
I have no answers except to say that only by genuine positive action and not mere words can you hope to convince a public fed up with the drama year in and year out. By all means give the Malays their due but please don't sacrifice brilliant kids who are not Malay on the altar of expediency.
posted by The Malaysian. at 6/21/2006 06:49:00 PM
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