THE Education Ministry (MOE) is looking to rebrand Form 6 colleges to pre-university colleges, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. 

She said the move will give the colleges a new image, and that it is the MOE’s commitment to ensure the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) exam will be an option for students pursuing tertiary studies.

“With the rebranding of the Form 6 education system, (there will be changes in designation) from pupils to students, teachers to lecturers, principals to directors and senior assistant teachers to deputy directors,” she said in her speech at the 2022 STPM, Malaysian University English Test and Malay Language Proficiency Certification for Non-Malaysians award ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today. 

When asked after the ceremony, Fadhlina said the titles will change but the salary grades will remain. 

She said the MOE has granted autonomous power to the Form 6 principals, effective immediately, to relax entry conditions and offer spots to qualified candidates and those who want to continue their studies, if there are vacancies. 

“It is part of the MOE’s efforts to lower the dropout rate, because previously the admission process for Form 6 students was via offers from MOE. The ministry might overlook students who are eligible to continue their studies at the STPM level,” she said. 

The ministry is also working to increase the number of “excellent” Form 6 teachers, which currently stands at 60, or only 0.5%, of all Form 6 teachers.

She said the ministry will review instruments and rubrics used to evaluate these teachers to improve their quality and professionalism.

On the registration of Form 6 students, she said 67% of those offered have confirmed their registration so far. – Bernama, July 13, 2023.