The 624 STPM top scorers should be offered full scholarships and first
choice of course to send a clear message of the new ethos of academic
performance and achievement as a giant step to transform Malaysia's public
universities from centres of mediocrity into universities of merit and
excellence
Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
(Penang,
Wednesday): The Sijil Tinggi
Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) 2002 top scorers - the 624 candidates who
scored grade A , i.e. 40 with 5As and 584 with 4As - should be offered full
scholarships and first choice of course to send a clear message of the new
ethos of academic performance and achievement as a giant step to transform
Malaysia's public universities into internationally-recognised universities
of merit.
The Education Ministry Higher Education Department director-general Dr.
Hassan Said said on Monday that there will be an intake of 36,500 students
into the public universities this year, which is a 11 per cent increase from
32,752 student-intake last year, with 60 per cent of the places reserved for
science students.
The offer of these 36,500 university places do not include University
Teknologi Mara, (about 6,000 places) the International Islamic University
(about 3,500 places), the Islamic faculties at Universiti Malaya and
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (some 350 and 500 respectively), and for
Islamic courses at Kolej University Islam Malaysia (about 400 places), which
comprise a total of some 11,750 places.
Offering full scholarships and first choice of course to the 624 STPM
top-scorers, which would only represent 1.7 per cent of the 2002 university
intake of 36,500 places, would be the start of a major transformation of the
public universities from centres of mediocrity into centres of merit and
excellence, introducing a new academic culture of achievement, performance
and excellence.
I feel sad when reading a press interview with the country's top STPM scorer
of 5As, Cheong Chee Yen of SMK Seri Kampar, and who had previously obtained
8As for his SPM in 2000 and also 8As for his PMR in 1998. Cheong was
speaking of his ambition to become a doctor and he asked for public support
for his medical studies in Ireland, as he comes from a poor family. His
father, Swee Fatt, 55, is a construction worker.
Why should the STPM top scorer's first thoughts be how to find the funding
for his medical studies in Ireland - when he should be fully assured that he
would be offered a full scholarship for a medical course in the top local
university in recognition of his academic performance?
This highlights the tragedy of the national education system which does not
give a premium for achievement, performance and excellence.
It is not only Cheong Chee Yen, but all the nine STPM 5A scorers from Penang
(Khur Boon Kgim, Lee Khai Chian, Lee Kian Hean and Quah Kah Teong from Jit
Sin, Chan Phaik Ying, Ong Gin Hwa and Margaret Teoh Wei Ling from Penang
Chinese Girls' High School, Ng Rui Lun from Chung Ling and Lee Siew Kean
from Sri Balik Pulau) and all the 624 STPM top scorers who should be able to
be assured that they would be offered full scholarships locally to take the
university course of their first choice as the country's appreciation for
their good results and recognition of the national importance in investing
on the human capital of the best and brightest of each generation for the
future.
I call on the MCA and Gerakan Ministers to give full support to establish in
Cabinet the principle and policy that all the top STPM scorers with full As
for all the subjects that they take - whether five or four subjects - would
be automatically offered full scholarships and the first choice of the
university course they want to pursue.
(5/3/2003)
*
Lim Kit Siang, DAP National
Chairman
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http://dapmalaysia.org