New STPM: UK reaction worries Hindraf

The government has not given a satisfactory response to a query about whether foreign institutions will recognise the certificate, says an official of the Hindu rights movement.

GEORGE TOWN: The government has failed to relieve fears that the change in the STPM format will reduce the opportunities for students to continue their education overseas.

According to Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam, the Higher Education Ministry has not given a satisfactory answer to his letter seeking clarification from it.

Sambulingam did not give details of his communication with the ministry, but he told FMT that he had also written to foreign embassies and the reply he received from the British High Commission was discouraging.

“Based on the UK reply, I am convinced that foreign institutions are unaware of the changes, let alone willing to recognise the new STPM formula,” he said.

He added that he was still waiting for replies from the foreign missions of India, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

The change in the STPM examination format was announced last March 6 by the chairman of the Malaysian Examination Council, Mohd Noh Dalimin. Instead of the certificate being awarded on the basis of performance in the examination held at the end of the two-year pre-university course, the evaluation will now be based on performance in three school-based examinations spread out over the two years.

Hindraf has described the change as an extension of a racist policy aimed at “further marginalising the already institutionally victimised non-Malay students”. Most Form Six students are non-Malays who cannot gain admission into institutions running matriculation courses for local universities.

“The matriculation examination, considered much less gruelling than STPM, is out of bounds for non-Malay students, thanks to racist Umno,” Sambulingam said.

But he also expressed disappointment with Pakatan Rakyat, saying it had not looked into the issue seriously, “perhaps because the new system will only hurt the poor Indians most”.