THE Sabah government recognises the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) as an entrance qualification to public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) and the state’s civil service sector.

Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said, however, several aspects needed to be taken into consideration.

“The UEC is recognised in Sabah. The state government has already decided to recognise the certificate,” he said at the launch of the Moon Cake Festival at Lintas Square, Kota Kinabalu, last night.

Elaborating further in a statement, the chief minister said nine independent Chinese secondary schools and educational institutions offer the UEC.

“There are currently 1,153 UEC candidates at the junior level and 583 at the senior level, and they sit two types of examinations.

“Candidates who undertake the Junior UEC examination are required to sit the Form Three Assessment (PT3) examination and those sitting the Senior UEC  examination must also sit the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

“I am also glad to say that 83 of them are Bumiputera,” he said.

Shafie said while the Sabah Education Department supported the decision to recognise the UEC, one must also have a credit in Bahasa Melayu and pass History at the SPM level, as well as pass the Malaysia University English Test (MUET) to gain entry to an IPTA.

He said the state Public Services Department also agreed that UEC holders wanting to join the civil service will need the necessary qualifications as specified under the department’s rules and regulations.

At the same time, Shafie said they must also have the necessary minimum SPM qualifications or other qualifications set by the Sabah government. – Bernama, September 29, 2019.