KUALA LUMPUR: In line with changes to the national education policy and increased access to upper secondary education, the minimum qualification for entry into the civil service has been raised to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
As a result, 11 service schemes that previously required the Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) or Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) would be upgraded to service schemes requiring SPM qualifications.
According to 2024 Service Circular Number 1 on the Implementation of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) for Federal Civil Service Officers, forest rangers under the Malaysian Remuneration System (SSM) grades G11 and G14 and wildlife assistants are among the affected service schemes.
Other roles impacted by the change include vehicle drivers, heavy machinery operators, public assistants, and plant operators under grades H11, H14, H16, and H18; security guards (KP11, KP14, KP16, KP18); health assistants (U11, U14, U16, U18); as well as parliamentary ushers, notice servers, and operations assistants (N11, N14, N16, N18).
The circular also notes that the service schemes for vehicle drivers, heavy machinery operators, public assistants, plant operators, parliamentary ushers, notice servers, and operations assistants would be merged into a new SPM-qualified service scheme known as General Service Assistant, classified under the Skills Service (H).
Current holders of the positions would be reappointed under the new General Service Assistant scheme.
"The health assistant service scheme would also be upgraded to an SPM-qualified scheme, with existing holders being reappointed to this new service scheme.
"In addition, the security guard service scheme would be discontinued, and existing holders would be reappointed to the SPM-qualified Security Assistant scheme," read the circular published on the Public Service Department (JPA) website on Friday (Sept 13).
The PT3 or PMR-qualified forest ranger and wildlife assistant service schemes would be abolished, and current holders would be reappointed to SPM-qualified versions of these roles.
Meanwhile, the circular also announced that the qualification for 26 SPM-level service schemes would be expanded to include the Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM), while 11 diploma and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) service schemes would now accept the Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) and Malaysian Advanced Skills Diploma (DLKM).
This recognition of TVET qualifications takes into account fields relevant to the job scope within the service schemes and provides skilled candidates with opportunities to join the civil service.
Further information may be obtained at https://sspa.jpa.gov.my/index.php/pekeliling. – Bernama
