THERE is no need to abolish Form Six and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said.

She said Form Six, as well as the STPM examination, offered by the Education Ministry (MOE), is governed by the Education Act 1996 and is assured of its existence and continuation.

“The purpose of its existence is to ensure that upper secondary level students obtain a quality education, comparable to international standards. The STPM standard is recognised by Cambridge Assessment International Education.

“All public universities in the country recognise this academic qualification and more than 2,000 universities globally recognise the STPM certificate. STPM certificate holders can further their studies anywhere in the country and abroad, including in the United States, the Commonwealth countries as well as the Middle East,” she said.

She said this when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address in the Dewan Negara today.

Earlier, Senator Dominic Lau proposed that the government abolish STPM and replace it with a matriculation programme.

Fadhlina added that Form Six education has its own goals and objectives, compared with the Malaysian matriculation and bachelor in teaching programmes.

“Form Six aims to give the widest possible access to secondary school students, through 643 centres of various learning modes nationwide.

“In fact, the MOE will also expand the Form Six college in Pahang, which is at Astana College, Kuantan, and another one in Sri Lipis, in addition to the construction of the Form Six college in Kelantan, which has passed the construction allocation in the 12th Malaysia Plan,” she said. – Bernama, March 27, 2023.