KPT Says Tahfiz Intake Initiative Is Not About Recognising UEC
PUTRAJAYA: Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi has clarified that efforts to create pathways for tahfiz graduates into public higher education institutions are not intended as a move to officially recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
Instead, the ministry said the initiative is aimed at expanding access to higher education for students from religious and alternative education streams who wish to pursue university studies.
Director-General of Higher Education, Azlinda Azman, said the government recognises the growing number of students from tahfiz schools, pondok institutions and other religious education backgrounds who are interested in continuing their studies at tertiary level.
According to her, the initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that capable students from non-mainstream educational backgrounds are not excluded from opportunities to further their education.
She explained that religious schools operating under the system of Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia already have more structured academic systems and clearer educational syllabuses.
However, she noted that there are still tens of thousands of students from pondok schools and other religious institutions outside the formal system who also require educational opportunities.
“The government sees that more students from religious streams are interested in pursuing higher education. Schools under the JAKIM system have clearer structures and academic organisation.
“But there are also many students from pondok and other religious schools outside that system. The government wants to provide pathways and opportunities for them to continue their education,” she said.
Azlinda stressed that the ministry’s move should not be interpreted as an official recognition of UEC, despite public debate surrounding the issue.
She said while different parties are free to express their opinions, the ministry’s focus remains on improving inclusivity and educational access rather than recognising any particular examination system.
According to her, the effort is also in line with the aspirations outlined under the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint 2026–2035, which aims to broaden participation in tertiary education.
At the same time, she clarified that the final admission requirements for students from Chinese independent schools and related education streams have not yet been officially announced.
Responding to criticism from Dong Zong that the proposed entry requirements were too strict, Azlinda said such claims were premature because no official admission advertisement had been released by the ministry.
“In reality, the requirements are not unclear because universities already have their own established criteria and standards. These matters have already been carefully examined,” she said.
She explained that every public university has its own academic standards and admission requirements, which are determined by each institution’s senate.
According to her, university senates remain the highest authority in safeguarding academic quality and standards, and those principles would not be compromised.
“The university senate is responsible for determining academic quality and standards. That is something we cannot compromise on and no external party can interfere,” she said.
Azlinda added that the full admission criteria and application details would only be revealed once the official application process opens on June 30.
She said prospective students would then be able to review the specific requirements set by individual universities before applying for their chosen programmes.
The issue surrounding access for tahfiz graduates and students from independent school systems into public universities continues to attract public attention, particularly as it touches on questions of inclusivity, national education policy and the preservation of academic standards within Malaysia’s higher education system.
-wilayah.com.my
