The Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (Mapcu) has urged the government to consider allowing its members to register Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) candidates based on their forecast results for the examinations which have been postponed to next year.
Mapcu president Parmjit Singh told Malaysiakini the request was made as the private higher educational institutions (IPTS) sector is already badly affected by the current Covid-19 outbreak, largely due to reduction in the number of existing students.
"If the SPM and examinations are held in let's say February or March (next year), their results would only be expected to be released sometime in May or perhaps even later, which would deepen the damages already incurred.
"It is important to note that IPTS are not funded by the government," he said when contacted today.
Under the current regulations, Parmjit said IPTS are allowed to enrol students based on their forecast results, but formal registration could only be done based on final examination results.
"Everything is only official after results and registration.
"Then the course can properly start," he explained.
At the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, Parmjit noted that travel restrictions imposed by other countries, particularly China - where the novel coronavirus was first detected - have affected enrolment for the current intake beginning late last month until earlier this month.
"We also could not get new post-SPM and STPM students (who sat for the examinations last year) due to the MCO.
"The new online medium is also not suited to all, so that's a further reduction in students," said Parmjit, whose members represent around 70 private universities, foreign branch campuses and university colleges offering degree-level education.
Commenting further, Parmjit said a possible model for the government's consideration could see students being conditionally admitted in March or April next year based on their forecast results, and the students’ statuses are to be reviewed based on their actual results when available.
"In the event that the exams are cancelled, which appears to be unlikely, we request the government to allow the students’ school marks to be used for admission purposes," he added.
At the same time, Parmjit also suggested the Education Ministry to release the final SPM results within eight weeks, similar to a time frame set for A-Levels or O-Levels examinations, down from the current 13 to 15 weeks.
Education Minister Radzi Jidin earlier today announced that SPM, Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia and Sijil Vokasional Malaysia examinations will be postponed to the first quarter of 2021.
"If the SPM and examinations are held in let's say February or March (next year), their results would only be expected to be released sometime in May or perhaps even later, which would deepen the damages already incurred.
"It is important to note that IPTS are not funded by the government," he said when contacted today.
Under the current regulations, Parmjit said IPTS are allowed to enrol students based on their forecast results, but formal registration could only be done based on final examination results.
"Everything is only official after results and registration.
"Then the course can properly start," he explained.
At the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, Parmjit noted that travel restrictions imposed by other countries, particularly China - where the novel coronavirus was first detected - have affected enrolment for the current intake beginning late last month until earlier this month.
"We also could not get new post-SPM and STPM students (who sat for the examinations last year) due to the MCO.
"The new online medium is also not suited to all, so that's a further reduction in students," said Parmjit, whose members represent around 70 private universities, foreign branch campuses and university colleges offering degree-level education.
Commenting further, Parmjit said a possible model for the government's consideration could see students being conditionally admitted in March or April next year based on their forecast results, and the students’ statuses are to be reviewed based on their actual results when available.
"In the event that the exams are cancelled, which appears to be unlikely, we request the government to allow the students’ school marks to be used for admission purposes," he added.
At the same time, Parmjit also suggested the Education Ministry to release the final SPM results within eight weeks, similar to a time frame set for A-Levels or O-Levels examinations, down from the current 13 to 15 weeks.
Education Minister Radzi Jidin earlier today announced that SPM, Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia and Sijil Vokasional Malaysia examinations will be postponed to the first quarter of 2021.
Meanwhile, for STPM candidates, their second-semester examination is postponed to August 2020 while the third-semester examination is postponed to the first quarter of 2021.
Noting that postponement of the exams would impact enrolment to institutions of higher learning, Radzi also said the Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry have agreed to postpone the new intake date for foundation programmes, matriculation and diplomas to July or August next year, and for degree programmes to September or October next year. - Mkini
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