The annual controversy over admissions to the country's public higher education institutions (PHEI) following the recent announcement of the STPM results has erupted yet again.

Yesterday, the admissions list was announced by the higher education ministry for all PHEI in the country. Today, its minister has been told to stop applying double standards in selecting the students.

Media reports have stated that of the 62,158 qualified students who have applied for PHEI admissions, only 40,016 have been offered places. Of this figure, 24,957 are bumiputera, 12,616 Chinese and 2,443 Indians.

DAP Youth (Dapsy), however, has expressed reservations about the currently-used meritocracy system saying that it is not transparent enough since it is applied for two different examination systems.

"One better system should be implemented, either matriculation or STPM and the other one should be abolished," said Fong Po Kuan, Dapsy's deputy chief in a statement today.

At present, most bumiputera students qualify through the matriculation system while the bulk of non-bumis attempt to gain varsity admission through the STPM route.

Guideline needed

Fong questioned the higher education ministry reluctance to have a single syllabus under which all students could be graded by same examinations and compete for PHEI admission on an equal platform.

She also rapped the ministry for non-transparency over its course-matching criteria which has given rise to much dissatisfaction and disappointment among the students.

"The ministry should stop giving reason that students are not only graded by examination results but also by co-curricular achievements. It also must stop blaming students for choosing the wrong course when the apply for the admission," she said.

Fong, who is Batu Gajah MP, said the DAP has repeatedly urged the higher education ministry in to reveal the cut-off grade points for each courses offered in PHEI so students can use this as a guideline when applying for admission.

"They should announce the cut-off points to avoid the ministry blaming students for making a mistake by applying for the wrong course," she said.

Apart from this, Fong said the ministry should also reveal the selected students' grade points to allow those not selected a comparison.

"For now, students who were not selected do not know the reason for their failure in not getting admission," she added.

The 'hero'

Fong warned that the nation's unity would be affected if unfair and non-transparent policies were upheld in providing scholarships, the grading of students and for admissions into PHEI.

Unfair polices, she said, would force good students to accept scholarships form neighbouring countries.

"If this happens, then the campaign to welcome back Malaysian professionals from foreign lands will be a total waste of money and time because they were not offered the best here in the first place," she pointed out.

Dapsy also reminded the MCA to challenge the higher education ministry's non-transparent polices and 'stop pretending to be like a hero' by assisting the rejected students.