M Vivekananthan
It has been a yearly ritual for many frustrated top-scorers, especially from the Indian community, to go to MIC to plead for help to get a place in the Matriculation colleges after being rejected.
The unwritten policy practised is that 90% is reserved for Bumiputera students and the rest for others.
However, there has always been a lack of clarity regarding matriculation programmes - specifically, how many places were offered, how many students were accepted, and how many offers were declined.
As for students coming from well-to-do families, they still have the option of pursuing their studies overseas.
But such a luxury is not within the grasp of most non-Malay students, especially the Indians.
On June 30, last year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said all students who score 10As and above in the SPM examination, regardless of race or background, will be guaranteed a spot in matriculation colleges starting with the 2025 intake.
How is this possible?
Most normal schools only offer nine subjects due to resources and structural limitations.
This is a reality that the government must face, and the education minister has a sacred duty to ensure no one is deprived of a rightful place in matriculation colleges if they have worked hard and obtained good results.
In 2017, then-Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made a historic decision by increasing the number of matriculation slots for Indian students.
For the first time ever, an additional 700 seats were allocated, bringing the total number of matriculation slots for Indians to 2 200.
However, many uncertainties and doubts remain and every year, the MIC is approached by numerous students seeking assistance to secure a place.
In fact, just recently, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M Saravanan formally wrote to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek seeking a detailed breakdown of the number of Indian students who applied for and were offered places in this year’s (2025) matriculation programme.
Saravanan has been seeking a fair resolution to this issue where both merit and quotas are evenly weighed to ensure deserving students are not neglected.
Malaysia is already facing a brain drain and many local students who can afford an overseas education seldom return.
If entry to matriculation programmes are more professionally managed and due consideration given to high achievers, this problem would not arise.
It is time those responsible come up with clear guidelines as requested by Saravanan to ensure a clear and transparent system for everyone.
M.Vivekananthan is an ex-government servant who has served various ministries and agencies for over 30 years
