ALOR STAR: A more detailed study should be carried out on the revised entry requirements for higher learning institutions which require students to achieve a higher score in the Malaysia University English English Test (MUET) examination from next year.
The new requirement was announced as part of the Budget 2015 to enhance graduate employability.
The minimum English entry requirement will now depend on the field of study and will no longer be the minimum grade of Band 1 as currently required.
Those aiming for Arts and Social Science courses will have to achieve Band 2, while Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics courses must achieve Band 3.
Law and medical courses will require a Band 4 result in MUET.
Universiti Utara Malaysia vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak said the move had big implications and needed to be studied in detail.
"A lot needs to be done. We need to ensure that students can at least achieve the required qualifying mark to get into university.
"Earlier the PPSMI which required the teaching of Science and Mathematics would have been helpful but now this too has been abolished in 2009," he said.
He was speaking at a post Budget 2015 review at the TH hotel and Convention Centre by the Economic, Banking and Finance review department of Universiti Utara Malaysia.
The forum was also attended by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali and UUM Economic, Banking and Finance review department's Prof Datuk Dr Amir Hussin Baharuddin.
"There is a risk that university places may not be filled up by 2015 as the MUET requirements may not be satisfied," he said.
The budget announcement on the new requirements for university entry were announced last Friday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Meanwhile, Noor Azlan said that the 2015 budget had lightened the burden of people with more job and entrepreneurial opportunities.
"This is especially true for single mothers, young women and youth," he said.
Monday, 8 July 2024, 11:15 AM
