New guidelines will standardise first class degree awards nationwide, addressing PTPTN exemption fairness and ensuring uniform academic standards.
SHAH ALAM: The government will introduce new guidelines to standardise the awarding of First Class degrees across all higher education institutions.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said the move is crucial to ensure uniform assessment standards between public and private universities.
This standardisation is particularly important for the exemption of PTPTN loan repayments for First Class graduates.
Zambry highlighted the government’s current financial constraints, with annual expenditure for such exemptions exceeding RM300 million.
He noted the challenge of measuring First Class achievements at private institutions compared to the clearer systems in public universities.
“We do not want any perception that it is easier to obtain a First Class degree at one institution and more difficult at another,” he said.
The minister was speaking at a student dialogue programme at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam.
He has instructed the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation to ensure no discrimination against private institution students.
This includes students from low-income families who achieve excellence through their own effort.
MQA chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran confirmed the agency will issue a specific guideline.
The guideline will standardise the definition and criteria for First Class degrees across all institutions.
“There should no longer be perceptions that it is easier to obtain a First Class degree at one institution and harder at another,” he said.
The guideline is expected to be tabled at the MQA Council Meeting in May.
It will then be submitted to the Higher Education Ministry for a final decision.
Previously, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a PTPTN exemption for First Class graduates from public universities.
The exemption applies to graduates from low- and middle-income families, benefiting nearly 6,000 borrowers.
The annual allocation for this initiative is RM90 million.
The Sun Malaysia
