PUTRAJAYA: Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders who meet the minimum entry requirement of B4 in five stipulated subjects will remain eligible to apply for direct entry into medical degree programmes at private universities.
Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the cabinet had decided to retain the entry requirements that were in place before the recent amendment to the Education Act.
“Therefore, UEC holders who meet the minimum requirement of B4 in the five stipulated subjects remain eligible to apply for direct entry into medical degree programmes at private higher education institutions (IPTS),” he said at his weekly post-cabinet meeting press conference.
Under the amendment, the UEC, administered by the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) for Chinese independent secondary schools, is not recognised by the federal government as an entry qualification for public universities.
Fahmi said the Health Ministry and Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) would coordinate follow-up action with the Higher Education Ministry to ensure the admission process ran smoothly and address any issues that might arise.
He said the move would also ensure that the standards and quality of medical education in the country, including at private institutions, remained protected.
B4 is equivalent to a credit grade under the UEC grading system.
Under existing MMC guidelines, UEC qualifications are recognised for admission into medical programmes at private higher education institutions only.