UiTM's Merit-Based Housing System Questioned Amidst Placement Shortages

The student housing placement system at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is facing scrutiny as students with high academic and extracurricular merit reportedly struggle to secure dormitory accommodations. The student group Suara Siswa UiTM has voiced concerns that the e-Merit system, which considers academic achievement, co-curricular activities, and student engagement, does not adequately reflect students' socioeconomic backgrounds or individual needs.

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If students with high merit are still not getting college placements, the question is no longer just about how much merit is needed, but who actually needs the placement the most.

"If students with high merit are still not getting college placements, the question is no longer just about how much merit is needed, but who actually needs the placement the most," stated Suara Siswa UiTM in a press release. The group highlighted that students from low-income families may face additional responsibilities, such as part-time work or long commutes, which could hinder their ability to participate in merit-accumulating activities.

Suara Siswa UiTM argued that not all students start from the same position, pointing out financial and transportation constraints that should be considered when determining eligibility for housing. Previously, Utusan Malaysia reported on the recurring issue of insufficient dormitory capacity, with some students seeking alternative housing despite accumulating high merit scores.

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Students do not start from the same situation. Some have financial and transportation constraints, so those matters should also be taken into account when determining who is eligible for college.

The student group urged UiTM and the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) to incorporate socioeconomic factors, proximity to home, transportation access, and financial circumstances into the college placement system. They believe that if need is a criterion for accessing higher education, the same principle should apply to determining support needed for students to remain enrolled in their studies.

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If the factor of need is used to ensure students have access to higher education, the same principle should be continued when determining the support needed for them to remain in their studies.