ALL remaining SPM graduates who scored 10As but have not yet secured spots in their chosen matriculation programmes will be accommodated by August, says Fadhlina Sidek.
The Education Minister said out of the 4,877 students who obtained 10As and applied for 2024/2025 matriculation programmes, 793 students had yet to be accepted.
This group comprises 712 non-bumiputra students and 81 bumiputra students, with Fadhlina saying that offers would be extended to them in multiple phases.
“We already have the full list of 10A students who have yet to be accepted and they will be part of the third intake period.
“The plan now is to finalise the third intake period by the third week of August,” she said after a Special Chambers debate in Parliament yesterday.
Fadhlina said students with outstanding SPM results, regardless of whether they scored A-, A+ or A, will be eligible to apply for matriculation.
“The focus now will be to ensure that all of these 10A students who have applied are offered places in matriculation programmes,” she added.
She also said there were still ample spots available for students with exceptional but not perfect results.
“Even those who scored 10As with 1B or 1C will be considered along with those who took fewer subjects but scored straight As.
“These equally exceptional students will be considered for matriculation as we expect a number of high-scoring students to opt for other public institutions of higher learning through University Central Unit applications,” she said.
At a press conference later, Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin) commended Fadhlina for her commitment to resolving the issue.
“This is a good effort by the Madani administration and assures students with 10As and above that the Prime Minister’s promise will be fulfilled.
“To those affected, don’t worry. The minister herself provided assurances in the Special Chambers and everything is documented in the Parliament Hansard,” said Chong, who serves on the Special Select Committee on Nation-Building, Education and Human Resources Development.
On June 30, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that all students who obtained 10As and above in the SPM exam would be guaranteed a place in any matriculation programme regardless of race or religion, starting this year.
The first intake period for 2024/2025 matriculation programmes began in December last year, with the second intake occurring from July 5-12, following Anwar’s announcement.
On Tuesday, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) submitted a list of matriculation applicants who had exhausted their appeals for admission after the Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
