Idris Jusoh’s explanation on the SPM forecast results ban is unsatisfactory, said DAP demanding that the Education Ministry respond to arguments for its use to apply for private establishments.

While there is a national uproar by parents and students over the abolishing of the using SPM forecast results to enter private education institutions, Second Education Minister Idris Jusoh said that there was no necessity to review it since the “the ruling has been around for years”.

The response by Idris Jusoh prompted the DAP to demand for an explanation of the rationale behind the move by the government. Seputeh MP Teresa Kok asked why the ministry had decided to proceed with the circular which is opposed by students and parents.

“Surely the Education Ministry cannot claim ignorance of such a practice by private colleges as the acceptance of forecast results is widely advertised in brochures and websites of private colleges,” she said in a statement today.

She reminded the minister that forecast results are only accepted conditionally as students who fail to meet the minimum requirements in their actual results will have the offers withdrawn, therefore not diminishing the importance of the SPM results.

“The basic question that the Second Education Minister must answer is why the sudden enforcement when the practice has not been an issue or created any problem?” she asked.

Also opposing the circular, DAP Secretary General Lim Guan Eng in a letter to Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin asked that the forecast results be made valid for application into private universities or colleges.

“There is no rationale behind barring the use of forecast SPM results other than it being a nuisance to students,” he said in his letter today.

He added that the use of forecast results was never problematic to anyone in the past.

“We hope that the Education Ministry will review the ruling for the future and welfare of the students,” he said. -The Rocket