(Refer Free Malaysia Today 29/5/2010)
KUALA LUMPUR: There was no joy for seven students who scored straight As in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia last year, because they claimed they have been denied access to pursue tertiary education.
Feeling despondent, they brought their case to the Human Rights Party (HRP), which has issued an ultimatum to the government:
“Help them or we will do something the country has not seen before.”
HRP national coordinator W Sambulingam gave the Higher Education Ministry three days to come up with a solution.
“The government must get back to these students in three days. It must come up with an answer on how to accommodate them into the education system.
“If not, we will do something Malaysia has not seen before,” he said today, adding that he will reveal the next course of action after the deadline ends.
Sambulingam said some of the students, who have graduated from Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM), had their applications to pursue tertiary studies turned down “without any reasons”.
He added that most of the parents of the students are low-income earners who cannot afford to send their children to private colleges.
According to him, this is only the tip of the iceberg. “I have received many calls from parents all over the country, who claim that their children who have also scored straight As in their SPM last year have been denied access to pursue tertiary education.
“These students are all high achievers whereas we understand that their Malay friends who scored less than 5As have been accepted to do matriculation (for entry into public universities) and even granted scholarships.
“Because of this, we are forced to make the assumption that Indians are indeed sidelined from the mainstream of society,” said Sambulingam.
He also said that it is meaningless to have public examinations if the “best of the best” do not get a place in a university.
“These students who scored straight As have worked and sacrificed a lot. What is the point of having examination if the government does not sponsor the best brains for tertiary studies?” he said.
Frustrated students speak up
One of the students, T Menaga, 18, who graduated from MRSM, Pasir Salak, with 8As, said she is forced to take up Sijil Tinggi Penilaian Malaysia (STPM) after her application to pursue tertiary education and scholarship was turned down.
She claimed that her Malay friends, who did not perform well and even had failed in some of the subjects, have been accepted to do matriculation studies.
“If I take up STPM, the exam will be tougher… But then again, I have no choice now but to do STPM,” said Menaga, whose ambition is to become a doctor.
Another 8As student, G Thirunyanam, of Sek Men Keb Kepong, said he was disappointed to learn that his application for a Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship was rejected last Friday.
“I was a school prefect and active in co-curricular activities. My parents are government servants. So why did the PSD turn down my application for scholarship? How can I motivate my younger sister? She might think that it is pointless to work hard if she ends up like me,” he said.
For B Muhesh Rao, of Sek Men Keb Hillcrest, Gombak, his 10As will not carry any weight.
“I did not get a PSD scholarship or a chance to do matriculation although I attended a PSD interview.”
Likewise, 18-year-old S Thisyamathi felt that scoring 11As is all a waste of time.
“I went to the Higher Education Ministry and the officials there told me I have to compete with 8,500 students who are more qualified than me. What does it mean? I got 11As!” said Thisyamathi of Sek Men Keb Raja Mahadi, Klang.
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