KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — The Education Ministry (MOE) is offering 300 scholarships to top Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) 2024 achievers to pursue studies in education at public universities.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the initiative is part of the ministry’s efforts to draw STPM graduates to the teaching profession and to strengthen their academic pathway to university level.
“This is what we are focusing on; to continue supporting promising talents who have achieved good STPM results and wish to pursue studies in the field of education,” she said.
She was speaking at an awards ceremony for top achievers for the STPM, Malaysian University English Test and Malay Language Proficiency Certificate for Foreign Nationals, organised by the Malaysian Examinations Council (MPM) here today.
Fadhlina said the initiative aims to strengthen the national education system by ensuring only truly committed and passionate individuals form the backbone of the education sector.
She said STPM graduates will also have the opportunity to enrol in the Bachelor of Education programme at Institutes of Teacher Education, a programme previously offered only to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers.
“This is part of MOE’s strong commitment to ensuring Form 6 remains a top choice for SPM graduates and opens wider opportunities for them,” she said.
In addition to students, Form 6 teachers will benefit through courses and training delivered as part of a corporate social responsibility initiative, in collaboration with the School Management Division and MPM.
Fadhlina expressed full support for MPM’s initiative to introduce a “patching” system for candidates who wish to improve their STPM results in the same year.
She said this would help those who want to retake and improve their results to do so in the same academic year, giving them an advantage when applying for current university intakes.
Fadhlina also emphasised that the STPM is internationally recognised, on a par with the GCE Advanced Level by Cambridge University Press and Assessment, thereby opening up broader opportunities for students to pursue studies abroad.
— Bernama
