Legal Changes Needed Before Pre-university System Implementation - Zambry

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Several legal aspects need to be resolved before the pre-university education system involving Form Six and Matriculation can be implemented this year, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

Speaking at a press conference after the launch of the National Education Blueprint (RPN) 2026-2035 here today, he said previously, the management of Form Six and Matriculation was under the Ministry of Education (MOE), and this now required adjustments to existing laws.

“If previously, for Form Six and also Matriculation, the assessment system was carried out at the MOE level. To implement this, as an initial step to ensure that Form Six and Matriculation are implemented at the higher education level, we first need to resolve several legal aspects or amendments to the existing Acts,” he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who launched RPN 2026-2035, said the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) would fully take over the pre-university education system involving Form Six and Matriculation beginning this year.

In February 2025, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh was reported as saying that Matriculation Colleges and Form Six Colleges would remain under the MOE, and that no final decision had been made by the government regarding the takeover of the two institutions by the MOHE.

Zambry said that in line with RPN 2026-2035, the country’s higher education system would adopt a more flexible and adaptive approach.

“It will no longer be confined to physical buildings and specific curricula. Previously, students were bound by certain structures to complete their studies. Now, students can choose a more open pathway through what is referred to as the ‘four quadrants’.

“Students can also benefit from the jukebox system, where they can take courses from different universities based on mutual agreements between institutions. For example, the University of Malaya (UM) will have collaborations with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Students can take some courses at UM, some at UKM and others at UTM,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zambry said the MOHE will hold a special retreat to ensure that every agenda under the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) 2026-2035 can be implemented effectively.

“For that purpose, we will soon hold a special retreat, with guidance from several experts who can help ensure the best methods for implementing the various agendas set out in higher education,” he said.

The RPN 2026-2035 is an education reform initiative aimed at building a more equitable, competitive and values-based future generation.

The new education plan involves two ministries, namely the MOE and the Ministry of Higher Education, and is a national strategic education plan that encompasses the entire education ecosystem, from school level to higher education.

-- BERNAMA