Special recognition will be given to holders of 'unrecognised' degrees who have completed the additional one-year course in teacher training colleges (KPLI).

Public Services Department (PSD) public relations officer Hasniah Rashid told malaysiakini today that this would enable them to be appointed as qualified teachers by the Education Ministry.

The decision was reached on Nov 21 at a meeting of the Permanent Committee for the Assessment and Recognition for Qualifications, she said.

Malaysiakini had reported on Nov 18 that the PSD does not recognise 31 degree courses from six public universities and one from a private college. This was based on a letter from the Education Service Commission (SPP).

Graduates affected are those who had completed the unrecognised degree courses, and who have later done an additional year-long KPLI course in order to qualify as teachers.

Despite that the students have completed the mandatory one-year KPLI course, they found themselves in limbo as the government does not recognised their first degrees.

The 31 unrecognised degree courses are offered by Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

One graduate said the PSD has since told her - after several complaints and explanations via letters and emails - that she will be given special recognition although her degree course remains unrecognised.

PSD apologised in that email response for the inconvenience caused to her and said the recognition letter has been sent to her by courier service. She has yet to receive it.

'Not fair' claim

National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng commented that if the Education Ministry knows that the degree is not recognised, it should not have enrolled the graduates for the KPLI in the first place.

"This is not fair to the students," she said.

Higher Education Deputy Minister Foo Ah Kiow had earlier said that application for recognition is required for all courses offered by local higher education institutions, including public universities.

However, some department heads caught up in the fuss over the unrecognised courses have complained that their applications were delayed due to frequent change of the application format and the strict application criteria imposed by PSD.

Instead of waiting for official approval, these educational institutions, including the country's top universities, have proceeded to offer such unrecognised courses to students.

KPLI is open to degree holders who want to serve as qualified teachers in public schools. The Education Ministry posts the graduates to schools to start their teaching career.

After obtaining their posting, they have to go through an interview by SPP and fulfill certain criteria, including possessing a degree recognised by PSD.