THE additional matriculation seats given to non-Bumiputera students is a win-win situation for everyone, said Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

“This is the first time more than 4,000 places have been given to the non-Bumiputera to enter matriculation.

“But this is not at the expense of the Bumiputera. The Bumiputera are being guaranteed to enter matriculation without sacrificing to the non-Bumi. So, it’s a win-win situation,” Maszlee told reporters in a special interview in Putrajaya today.

Maszlee also asked the public to be patient with the holistic assessment programme that it has implemented for lower primary students, starting this year.

“We are going to have our first evaluation in June and at the end of the year. At the end of year, we will be able to see the difference. The concept is not new and was already there. It’s just that there was no serious political will in its implementation.

“What is important to me is to let the teachers and parents see the effects of this approach after a few years,” said Maszlee.

More than half (54%) of those surveyed disagreed with the abolishing of examinations for Primary 1-3 students, the survey noted.

In the 55-minute interview, Maszlee also took 40 minutes to brief the media about the ministry’s nine focus areas.

The nine areas covered benefits for B40 group, improving teachers and students welfare and capabilities, commitment to improve dilapidated schools, aid for disabled students, improving public universities and colleges and technical and vocational training (TVET) and improving the Malay language capacity.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: In terms of standards, the matriculation programme is not the same as STPM?

A: It was a cabinet decision and I was announcing it on behalf of the cabinet. And we know that matriculation is not the only way to enter local universities. We also have STPM and Pusat Asasi (foundation study centres). And for us, these are all means of entering universities.

Q: Are there any efforts to raise the standards of matriculation?

A: We believe that our students are capable of excelling in their studies if we give them the chance and encourage them to do better. I believe our lecturers and teaches in matriculation centres, STPM and foundation study centres are all at the same capability and are dedicating themselves for the best of the nation.

Q: But matriculation and STPM aren’t the same standards.

A: STPM, matriculation and foundation centres are recognised as means to enter the public universities.

Q: How much more money has been allocated for the extra matriculation spots announced last week?

A: We believe that with these extra seats being offered, this is the first time more than 4,000 places are given to the non-Bumiputera to enter matriculation. But this is not at the expense of Bumiputera. The Bumiputera are being guaranteed to enter matriculation without sacrificing to the non-Bumi. So, it’s a win-win situation.

The cabinet has decided that the education and finance ministries will discuss the cost later.

Q: Is this a populist move?

A: All students deserve an opportunity to join matriculation. That’s why we are giving more seats to non-Bumiputera compared to previously. For the first time in Malaysian history and not at the expense of Bumiputera seats. They will still enjoy their 90% and there are more seats to non-Bumi compared to previous years.

Q: The latest Merdeka Centre survey shows that there isn’t a lot of support for the ministry’s efforts to do away with examinations for lower primary students. Is this the move to assessment based system the right move?

A: It’s only four months. If we want to know if people are satisfied or not, we need to look at the fruit.

They will see the result later. Holistic assessments are not new. The developed nations already have that and when you try to introduce new things, there will always be some dissatisfaction. But eventually, they will see the result and the holistic development of their children and everybody will be happy.

Q: When will we be able to see the results of the “holistic” approach and how do we benchmark our students against students from countries in the region?

A: We are going to have our first evaluation in June and at the end of the year. At the end of year, we will be able to see the difference. The concept is not new and was already there. It’s just that there was no serious political will in the implementation.

How do we benchmark? We can see the achievements of our students in the holistic assessments. And if we want, there are other assessments like PISA (Programme for International Assessment) etc.

What is important to me is to let the teachers and parents see the effects of this approach after a few years.

We will try to see the development of the students every half yearly.

Q: What do you hope to achieve at mid-term or two years?

A: We should focus on these nine points first. When the time comes, we will let you know.

Q: What has the ministry done on the subject of reducing religious classes and increasing English classes?

A: We have a working committee on this and they will be presenting their ideas soon. What they are doing is in line with the prime minister’s wishes.

Q: How do you plan to deal with the polemics concerning reducing religious classes?

A: I need to look at the proposal before commenting.

Q: Is there a shortage of English teachers in the country?

A: If we want to improve the proficiency of English among students in the country, we will need more teachers. We want are trying recruit more teachers. – April 29, 2019.