THERE is no need to abolish the Sixth Form and the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) as the pre-university certificate is recognised worldwide, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
According to the Nibong Tebal MP, the pre-university programme is in line with the Education Act 1966 and its purpose was to ensure that upper secondary level students receive quality education that is on par with international standards.
She further noted that the STPM examination itself is recognised by the Cambridge Assessment International Education.
Furthermore, the STPM certification is recognised not only by all public universities in the country, but also by more than 2,000 universities worldwide.
“This means that STPM graduates can further their studies anywhere in the country, abroad, in the United States, in all Commonwealth countries as well as West Asian countries,” she was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Fadhlina said this during the winding up of the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Dewan Negara earlier today (March 27).
According to Fadhlina, Sixth Form education has its own goals and objectives as compared to the matriculation programme or even the Program Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Malaysia, a bachelor’s degree programme offered by the Education Ministry.
“The Sixth Form education aims to provide the widest possible access to secondary school graduates through 643 Sixth Form centres of various learning modes throughout the country,” she remarked.
“In fact, the Education Ministry will further expand the Sixth Form College planned in Pahang namely in Kolej Astana, Kuantan and in Sri Lipis. This is in addition to the construction of a Sixth Form College in Kelantan which has already been approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12).” – March 27, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama