Ministry maintains non recognition of UEC: Mary Yap

PUTRAJAYA - The Higher Education Ministry will continue with its current non-recognition of the United Examination Certificate (UEC) as entry qualification into the public universities.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching said, however, it was willing to consider UEC’s position if its curriculum was in tandem with the National Education Policy.

Explaining the ministry’s stand in not recognising the UEC, she said the UEC was not in line with the national curriculum as defined within the Education Act 1996.

Besides the standard of Bahasa Malaysia component of the UEC was not equal to that of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) while the UEC’s history curriculum coverage of the nation’s history was inadequate, she said in a statement here today.

She also said the general requirement for entry into a public university was an SPM pass with a credit in Bahasa Melayu.

Yap said the ministry acknowledged the calls from various parties to recognise the UEC as a valid qualification for entry into public universities.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had in September announced that Sarawak would recognise the UEC and that holders of that certificate could apply for jobs in the state civil service.

The UEC holders also could secure state government loans for further studies, he said. -Bernama