Mandatory Bahasa Melayu, History for SPM: Ministry Discusses Inclusion of Non-National Curriculum Schools

The Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) is actively engaged in discussions regarding the mandatory inclusion of Bahasa Melayu and History for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, particularly for students pursuing non-national curriculum pathways. This initiative aims to ensure a standardized level of proficiency in these core subjects before students can gain admission to public universities (UA).

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This includes involving international schools, religious schools, the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) stream, Arabic stream schools, and other courses. So all of these will be taken into account.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir confirmed that a meeting with all relevant stakeholders was held last week to thoroughly deliberate this matter. Importantly, the proposed requirement will extend beyond just one educational stream. It is set to encompass international schools, religious schools, students following the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) curriculum, and Arabic stream schools, among others. The ministry's commitment is to forge a comprehensive solution, explicitly stating, “The government will ensure that there must be a comprehensive solution and does not involve only one stream; we do not want to take an ad-hoc approach.”

This move follows previous reports highlighting the necessity for students from non-national curriculum streams, including UEC, international, religious, and Arabic schools, to meet these SPM requirements for UA admission. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasized that resolving the Bahasa Melayu issue will help settle controversies surrounding university entrance requirements. While the discussion process is not yet finalized, KPT is working to expedite the implementation. “But in any case, the technical processes are still ongoing, so we are trying to finalize as soon as possible. At the same time, we are also taking an approach to prioritize all the people's problems, including involving the existing education system in the country,” Zambry added.

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The government will ensure that there must be a comprehensive solution and does not involve only one stream; we do not want to take an ad-hoc approach.

From Utusan Malaysia's perspective, this is a crucial step towards strengthening national identity and ensuring that all students, regardless of their educational background, possess a foundational understanding of Bahasa Melayu and Malaysian History. It addresses concerns about the integration of diverse educational streams within the national framework and reinforces the importance of these subjects in fostering unity and national consciousness. Ensuring these core subjects are mastered by all potential university entrants is vital for a cohesive and well-informed citizenry.

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But in any case, the technical processes are still ongoing, so we are trying to finalize as soon as possible. At the same time, we are also taking an approach to prioritize all the people's problems, including involving the existing education system in the country.