Will STPM lose prestige with format change?

Hindraf worries that non-Malays may see a reduction in their opportunities for university education.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hindraf today sought assurance from Higher Education Minister Khalid Nordin that foreign universities would continue to recognise the STPM certificate despite the recently announced change in the format of the Form Six examination.

W Sambulingam, national coordinator of the Hindu rights group, said he feared that the change would result in “victims of institutionalised racism” being denied the opportunity to pursue further education.

He said most STPM students were non-Malays with outstanding SPM results who were denied the opportunity to matriculate for local universities.

“So, the question now is whether the re-formatted exam will be accepted by overseas universities as a valid pre-university exam,” he said in a press statement.

“We want the minister to publicly provide his assurance on this matter.”

“It’s very crucial to ensure the STPM exam is not being narrowed down for only local public universities. It must remain recognised internationally. Otherwise, the victims of institutionalised racism can never become university graduates.”

According to an announcement last week by Malaysian Examinations Council chairman Mohd Noh Dalimin, school-based assessments will now contribute 20% to 40% of the marks students have to accumulate for the STPM certificate. The new format is effective for students currently in Lower Form Six.

The current STPM certificate is recognised as equivalent to Britain’s A-Level GCE by many universities in the Commonwealth, Ireland and the United States.