Ministry of Education clarifies student recruitment policy to public universities

The Ministry of Education released an official statement to clarify the student recruitment policy of public institutions of higher education (IPTA).

According to the statement, for academic session 2013-14, a total of 3,584 student applicants with CGPA 4.0 of which 1,673 (47%) are Bumiputera students, 1,275 (35%) Chinese, 361 (10%) Indians and 275 (7%) others. Of the 3,584 applicants with CGPA 4.0, 3,545 were offered a place in public universities.

MOE then stated that selection of students was based on meritocracy instead of racial quotas. Meritocracy policy is implemented by applying 90% academic marks and 10% marks for generating merit in extra-curricular activities. Student applicants were evaluated based on their academic performance and co-curricular activities.

The following factors explain why students (with CGPA 4.00) failed to secure positions:

• Student is not eligible for the programme
• There are no more seats available
• Student has chosen to "opt-out" if offered a program other than those requested
• Student failed in the interview
• Student has low merit marks

The following factors explain why candidates were offered a place in public university:

• Academic achievement in STPM/equivalent
• Achievements in co-curricular activities
• Combination of subjects taken were appropriate for the programmes applied for
• Grade of subjects for specialization
• Selection of priority programmes
• A minimum of level 1 (band 1) in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET)
• Number of places available for each programme

To view the full press release, click here