UEC task force to submit summary findings to Education Ministry tomorrow

• Updated to reflect Education Minister Maszlee Malik's response

The Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) task force will present a summary of its findings to the Education Ministry tomorrow and the full report soon after that, said its chairperson Eddin Khoo.

Following the Sabah state government decision to recognise the UEC, Khoo (photo) also stressed that any decision on the UEC by individual state governments will not affect their findings.

"Tomorrow is the meeting. There are two phases - the findings and the recommendations, and the final written report.

"Tomorrow is the first... The final written report will be delivered very soon after.

"I won't commit to dates (to submit the final report) but very soon after since the written report is pretty much done," Khoo told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Though the final report was initially due in July, he said he requested an extension as they were dealing with a serious issue and the work was very comprehensive.

As part of their work, he said they interviewed 72 individuals, groups, and political parties whose opinions will all be considered and included in the written report.

"Everything is done comprehensively, no verbal presentation only," he said.

Khoo was also asked about the Sabah government's recent decision to recognise UEC holders for tertiary education enrolment as well as civil service employment.

"The decisions of individual state governments do not influence the decisions and findings of the committee.

"We are an independent, fact-finding committee that is given the task of examining the issue in all its dimensions and providing a comprehensive context to an issue that has been ongoing for decades," he said.

Yesterday, the Warisan-led Sabah government has expressed its acceptance of the UEC for entrance into institutes of higher learning and into the civil service.

Even so, Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said UEC holders must also meet several other stipulated criteria set by the state education department and state Public Services Department (JPAN).

The UEC is an examination taken by students in Chinese independent schools.

In August, last year, the federal Pakatan Harapan-led government stated it will decide on whether to recognise the UEC after a detailed study within the next five years.

It later set up a task force in October to study the recognition of the UEC.

Meanwhile, Education Ministry Maszlee Malik stated the government would await the task force's report before making a decision.

"We are still waiting for the report and the findings will be brought to the Cabinet," he was quoted saying in Johor by Bernama.

He added that Sabah's acceptance of UEC was purely a decision of the state government. - Mkini