MOE Studies Co-curricular Merit For Students At Prison Institutions For University Admission

KAJANG, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry (MOE) will look into awarding merit for participation in co-curricular activities, including sports, by students at prison institutions for consideration in university admission.

Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the move was important to ensure that these students have the opportunity to pursue higher education after completing the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and leaving the institutions.

“The merit they earn can be taken into consideration for them to continue their studies at the next level,” she said when closing the 17th Hijrah Kasih Programme organised by the MOE in collaboration with the Malaysian Prison Department here today.

She said the matter was among the improvements being considered by the MOE to ensure that educational opportunities for students at prison institutions do not end after they complete their schooling.

Besides co-curricular merit, she said the ministry would also discuss with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) division the possibility of awarding skills certificates to students who undergo skills training while at prison institutions.

She said the students acquired various skills, including sewing and food preparation, which could benefit them when they return to society.

In a related development, Fadhlina said students at schools in prisons had achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in the SPM for two consecutive years, demonstrating that their circumstances do not prevent them from succeeding in education.

“This is not about a lack of opportunity. It is not about the place or which school they attend, but about their determination,” she said.

She said the ministry was also looking at ways to ensure that these students keep pace with developments in education outside, including through digital learning.

Fadhlina added that parental support was also important, particularly by continuing to be present and supporting their children when they are going through the most difficult periods of their lives.

Meanwhile, deputy director-general of Education (School Operations Sector) Datuk Zainal Abas said the ministry aims to have Physical, Sports and Co-curricular Assessment (PAJSK) scores for students at prison schools recognised this year, enabling SPM candidates from 2027 to receive 10 per cent merit when applying for university admission.

He said recognition of PAJSK scores was important as sporting and co-curricular achievements could help improve the students’ merit when applying to pursue higher education.

Zainal also said the MOE was looking into providing teachers at integrity schools and Henry Gurney schools nationwide with access to the DELIMa (Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia) platform.

He said the ministry was also studying the possibility of providing controlled access to DELIMa for students at the institutions so that they could take part in online learning and access educational materials digitally, while ensuring that they have access to learning facilities comparable to those available to other students.

-- BERNAMA