Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Wikipedia

The Malaysian government has announced a plan to place all pre-university pathways, including Form Six, under the Higher Education Ministry. This decision is seen as long overdue by many people involved in education, who believe it will help students get better opportunities and support for their future studies.

For many years, Form Six students and their schools have faced challenges because they were treated differently from other pre-university programmes such as foundation studies, diplomas, and matriculation. Form Six is currently under the Education Ministry, while other pre-university pathways are under the Higher Education Ministry.

Students Often Ignored in Schools

Mak Chee Kin, who is the chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association at Tun Fatimah Form Six College, explained why this change is necessary. He said that when Form Six classes are held in mainstream schools, the students are often ignored or forgotten by the school management.

Mak shared that in these schools, the teacher in charge of Form Six is only known as a senior assistant. This person does not have much power to make independent decisions for Form Six students. The principals usually focus more on the mainstream students from Forms One to Five, and Form Six students are not prioritised.

He said, “If Form Six students want to plan activities or need certain resources, it is difficult because the school leadership is busy with the younger students.” Because of this, Form Six students often do not get the same level of attention or support as students in other pre-university programmes.

Problems in Getting University Placements

Mak also highlighted another important issue. Many Form Six students who achieve excellent results in their STPM exams still face difficulties in getting into the university courses they want. Sometimes, even students with very good grades are not given priority, while students from other pre-university pathways like foundation programmes or matriculation are given seats first.

This situation has caused a lot of frustration among Form Six students. They work very hard and study for two years to complete their STPM exams, but in the end, they still find it hard to enter competitive university programmes such as medicine, law, or engineering.

Mak believes that if Form Six is placed under the Higher Education Ministry, it will help to level the playing field for students. They will be treated equally with those coming from foundation studies and matriculation, and their chances of getting into university will improve.

Call for Proper Pre-University Centres

Mak also urged the government to separate Form Six classes from mainstream schools. He suggested that the government should upgrade Form Six into proper pre-university centres with enough facilities, teachers, and funding. This way, Form Six students can focus on their studies in an environment that is meant for pre-university learning.

He said, “When Form Six is combined with mainstream schools, students do not feel that they are in a pre-university programme. They need proper facilities, good labs, libraries, and study areas, just like foundation and matriculation students have.”

Educationist Supports the Plan

Educationist and former Universiti Malaya professor, Tan Sri Dr T. Marimuthu, also agreed that bringing all pre-university pathways under one ministry is a good move. He explained that currently, there are many different courses with different lengths and systems, such as matriculation, foundation, and STPM.

He said that when these courses are streamlined under one ministry, it will improve the quality of education and make everything more organised. Students will also get a clearer understanding of their options after SPM, and universities can plan their intakes better.

Concerns About Poor Students

However, Dr Marimuthu raised one important concern. He said that many students who take Form Six come from low-income families, known as the B40 group. For these students, studying Form Six in a nearby school is easier and cheaper because they do not have to pay for accommodation or travel far.

If Form Six is moved fully under the Higher Education Ministry and becomes part of colleges or universities, these students might face problems. They may need to spend more money on hostels, food, and transportation.

He suggested that the ministry should plan this transition carefully. “If the government wants to move Form Six to colleges or special centres, they should give financial help to students from poor families. This can be in the form of hostels, free meals, or a monthly stipend so that they can study without worrying about money.”

Better Quality and Fairness for Students

Both Mak and Dr Marimuthu agreed that if this plan is carried out well, it can bring many benefits to students. It will improve the quality of Form Six education and make sure students are treated equally with those in other pre-university programmes.

They believe that this change can help Malaysia produce more skilled and knowledgeable graduates in the future.

Government’s Announcement

The Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, announced this plan during a special session called “In Person with Doc Zam”. This event was held online as part of Universiti Malaya’s Week-of-Welcome for the new academic session of 2025/2026.

During the session, a student asked him why foundation studies are under the Higher Education Ministry, but Form Six is still under the Education Ministry. In response, Dr Zambry explained that the government is planning to bring all pre-university pathways under one ministry to make things more organised and effective.

He said that the implementation of this plan is expected to happen either next year or the following year. The ministry will need to plan everything carefully to make sure that students’ education is not disturbed during the change.

Why This Change Matters

For many years, Form Six students have felt that they are not treated the same as students in other pre-university programmes. Their classes are often held in normal schools, and they do not have access to the same facilities as foundation or matriculation students.

If Form Six is placed under the Higher Education Ministry, it can help these students get better facilities, more focused teaching, and fairer opportunities to enter university courses. It can also improve the image of Form Six as a strong and respected pre-university programme.

This plan by the government shows that they are listening to the concerns of students, teachers, and parents. If the transition is done well, it can bring a big improvement to the education system in Malaysia.

Students like Arif, who is currently studying Form Six, said he feels hopeful about this change. “I want Form Six to be seen as a good choice, not just a backup option. I hope this plan will make our education better,” he said.

Parents like Puan Zainab, whose daughter is doing STPM, also shared their views. “My daughter works very hard. I hope this change will help her get a place in university easily,” she said with hope in her eyes.

In the end, education is the key to a better future, and every student deserves a fair chance to achieve their dreams.