If an “A-“ in the SPM is no longer considered an “A”, then what is it worth? The Ministry of Education’s (MoE) sudden change in the Matriculation admission criteria—excluding “A-” from the definition of an “A”—is deeply unjust and feels like “shifting the goalpost during a match.” It is a betrayal against students who have slogged tirelessly, in particular non-Bumiputeras who are unjustly deprived of their rightful opportunity to pursue tertiary education.

Students who achieved 10 “A’s”, including “A-” grades, reasonably expected automatic entry into the Matriculation programme based on last year’s promise by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. At the time, the policy was presented as race-blind and merit-based. But in reality, the intake process still adheres to racial quotas, with only 3,000 of the 40,000 Matriculation slots allocated to non-Bumiputera students this year.

More troubling is the retroactive nature of the criteria change. Only students who obtained at least 10 “A+” or “A” grades—specifically in Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Chemistry, and either Physics or Biology—now qualify automatically. Others will be evaluated through a points system. This shift unfairly penalises students who earned multiple “A-” grades, many of whom had aimed for Matriculation based on prior criteria.

The MoE announced this redefinition only _after_ SPM results were released. Such post-exam changes create anxiety, undermine students’ trust in the education system, and raise the disturbing possibility of further policy shifts in the future. Students should not be forced to gamble their future on unstable criteria.

This policy shift harms both Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera students, but the latter suffer doubly due to strict quota limits. The new criteria may be a veiled attempt to reduce the number of qualifying students under the pretext of maintaining the government’s image, rather than transparently revising a flawed promise.

Pakatan Harapan, particularly DAP, has long campaigned against the racial quota system in education. Yet now in government, the same system remains intact. The “10 A” admission promise introduced last year appeared to be a step forward. But redefining what counts as an “A” to exclude “A-” undermines that progress and discredits the government’s commitment to equity.

This chaotic and discriminatory admissions process threatens the integrity of our education system. It is not just a technical matter—it reflects deeper issues of fairness, trust, and access. The MoE must immediately clarify the rationale behind this policy change, re-evaluate the exclusion of “A-” grades, and uphold its duty to protect all students’ right to opportunity.

Students who worked hard and met previously stated expectations deserve clarity, _keadilan_, accessibility and a fair chance—not goalposts shifts.

Felicia Wong Yin Ting
MCA Education Consultative Committee Deputy Chairperson

13 May 2025

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