KUALA LUMPUR, 29 May 2009: The MIC has requested the Education Ministry to review its ruling on allowing students to take a maximum of 10 subjects only in the Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia (SPM) examination.
MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said that following a series of meetings with Indian Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and parents, the party felt that the ruling would deter Indian Malaysian students from sitting for both the Tamil Language and Tamil Literature papers in the SPM examination.
“The students could only sit for one of the (Tamil) papers as they have to also take the mandatory five compulsory subjects and the four science subjects under the new ruling.
“This would mean that they can only sit for either the Tamil Language or Tamil Literature paper,” he said in a statement here today.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced recently that starting next year, SPM students would only be allowed to take a maximum of 10 subjects.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said that in line with the decision, there would also be changes in the grading system.
Samy Vellu said the new ruling would prevent Indian Malaysian students from learning about the Tamil history, culture and language.
“It will put them in a difficult position as many of the Indian [Malaysian] students and even non-Indian [Malaysian] students may want to take the two subjects (Tamil Literature and Tamil Language),” he said.
Samy Vellu hoped that the ministry would revert to the original system which allowed the students to sit for any number of papers in the SPM examination.
“Students should not be restricted to 10 subjects. Instead, they should be given a free hand to sit for any number of subjects,” he said.
Samy Vellu said he would write to Muhyiddin to put on record the MIC’s objection to the ruling.
“I appeal to the deputy prime minister to consult the community and make the necessary changes in line with their aspirations,” he said. — Bernama
suresh says
Samy Vellu is now working? After he kept silent for so long?
watthe says
Let them sit for whatever subjects they want to take lah.
But make sure that they are aware that only 10 (or less depending on the courses they choose for uni) will be considered in evaluating the candidate for scholarship/entrance to uni. Obviously, if someone is applying, say for medicine, Tamil language/bible studies/Sejarah/Geography/etc etc etc shouldn’t be considered for points.
Jack says
Whether it is limited to 10 subjects or without limitation should not be an issue, but rather the grading system should be reviewed.
If based on the number of As, our thousand straight A scorers must be among the most intelligent in the world, and therefore all of them must be admitted to Harvard, MIT, Stanford etc.. but is this the case?
Actually, students are sitting for relatively easy subjects, such as principle of science, Islamic studies, etc to get additional As.