Nibong tebal: The Education Ministry (MOE) has affirmed that there is no requirement to abolish the matriculation system, emphasizing that both the programme and the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) meet the merit requirements for entry into public universities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Fadhlina Sidek highlighted that both systems have been integral to the national education framework and are crucial in providing students with access to higher education. She noted the ongoing debate about the potential abolishment of the matriculation system but advised against extreme measures. Both STPM and matriculation have established their place within the education system, each fulfilling the necessary merit requirements for university entry.

Fadhlina made these remarks after launching the Penang-level MADANI Pre-University Congress 2025 at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Engineering Campus. Her comments were in response to a call from the Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) for the government to abolish the matriculation system in favor of using STPM results as the sole benchmark for university admissions.

The Nibong Tebal MP assured that the ministry remains committed to addressing academic and welfare aspects for students in both systems, with improvements being implemented gradually. She also mentioned various initiatives introduced to strengthen the Form Six programme, including the enhancement of student leadership through student elections.

Fadhlina emphasized the importance of unity and cautioned against issues that create negative perceptions of the programmes. Both matriculation and STPM continue to play a vital role in supporting education and providing higher education access for students.