TRUST MASZLEE TO COME UP WITH A DUMB SOLUTION

The solution to the controversies over matriculation quota is to increase the intake from 25,000 spots to 40,0000.

But the bumi to non-bumi ratio is kept at 90:10.

It seems that the cabinet is very happy with this decision, thinking that this not only satisfies the non-bumis, in particular the Indians, but will also not offend the Malay society.

Education minister Maszlee Malik said this was the best solution that would make everyone happy.

As a citizen of this country, I nevertheless do not feel the slightest joy.

To be honest, it is an utterly horrible solution that will create bigger problems.

1. So, is the inequality from the quota system addressed?

No. It has only worsened the situation!

By increasing the intake without making adjustment to the quota will only widen the gap between the numbers of bumi and non-bumi students.

The intake of bumi students will soar from 22,500 to 36,000, while non-bumis will see an increase from 2,500 to 4,000 spots.

In other words, bumis will have additional 13,500 spots vis-à-vis non-bumis’ 1,500.

Is it more equal, or less equal now?

What the previous BN administration did last year was to add 2,200 spots for Indian students and 1,000 for Chinese students for a total addition of 3,200 spots.

Is what the PH government is doing now a step forward, or backward?

2. What should the education ministry do to cope with the sudden expanded intake, including with the schools, classrooms, teachers and facilities?

Maszlee said his ministry would discuss the increased expenditure with the finance ministry.

Which means, the government has not yet had any preparation or budget in place, and has hastily pushed through the expanded matriculation intake.

Please, we are not going to increase just two or three hundred spots but 15,000, or a whopping 60%!

In other words, classrooms, teachers, facilities and budget must all be increased by 60% and this has to be done within the next few months!

Is this possible?

3. How will our public universities absorb the remarkably increased number of matriculation students?

The matriculation program was designed as a springboard for secondary school graduates to get admitted into local universities. Matriculation students have had their tickets to government universities booked, unless they perform very badly in exam.

So, these students are poised to enter local universities in two years’ time (plus some sponsored by the government to study overseas).

Will our public universities be able to absorb so many students?

And will this be done at the expense of STPM graduates, who are now very worried about their future?

What I don’t understand is that such a flawed solution could even get proposed, and adopted, by the cabinet.

To address the issue of inequality, the once-and-for-all solution will be to modify the 90:10 quota or to integrate the Form Six-matriculation dual track system.

mysinchew