Second Education Minister, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said today the SPM trial exam results could only be used for short-term courses like in music and English Language.
He was responding to reported complaints from parents on the ministry’s action of disallowing the use of SPM trial exam results for students to join the pre-university and matriculation programmes at the IPTS from 2015.
Earlier, Idris launched the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)-Samsung SONO School at UMMC, here.
Idris said the rationale of disallowing the IPTS to rely on students’ SPM trial exam results for entry was to ensure the courses offered were of quality by adopting the best practices and able to meet the standards set by the Malaysian Qualifying Agency (MQA), which collaborated with related agencies throughout the world.
He said a reminder on the matter was issued to all IPTS on May 23, and he refuted the claims by certain quarters that the ministry had made a hasty decision on the issue.
“This is not a surprise or a new thing for the IPTS as they had known earlier and understood the prohibition of using SPM trial exam results for long-term courses.
“I don’t understand why there should be polemic on this now,” he said.
On the UMMC-Samsung SONO School, Idris said it was a best example of industry-university cooperation to increase graduates’ employability in the job market.
“Technological advancement has resulted in the rationale for univerties to establish cooperation with industries so that they will not lag behind and remain relevant with the times,” he said.
Idris hoped the learning concept at the univerties could be reviewed with emphasis on the “2 plus 2” approach, that is, two years of study at the learning institution and another two years of industrial training.
He said this was to make the graduates competitive and able to meet the needs of the job market, whether in the country or abroad.
— BERNAMA
