By Teresa Kok

Yesterday, Sinchew Daily reported that a STPM top scorer from Hutan Melintang Perak has failed to get a spot in the pharmacy programme in Universiti Sains Malaysia although she was offered to take up a pharmacy degree programme by Monash University Australia.

The student has scored 9A+ and 2 As in her SPM, full As (that is 4 As) in her STPM and 8.08 marks for her extracurricular activities. She was only offered biotechnology course.

Her plight was highlighted by Gerakan Bagan Datuk Division chief.

Today, it was reported in a few media that a STPM top scorer from Klang, , despite scoring straight A’s in both the STPM and SPM examinations, has not been able to get a spot in a public university to study any of the three courses she applied for.

The student Ng Li Ying, who had sought the help of DAP Assemblyman Teng Chang Khim, said that she applied to nine public universities to study medicine, dentistry or pharmacy, but was only offered a spot in a nursing course.

What do the two above cases tell us—that despite the fact that there have been past and open complaints of top students failing to obtain coursers they deserved, the problem is still happening.

In the 2014 QS World University Ranking by subjects, Monash University is ranked 8th in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology. It is a joke that when a STPM top scorer can gain admission into such a progamme at this world renowned university, yet she is only able to gain a spot in biotechnology programme at our local public university.

With full As in her STPM results, Ng can easily qualify for a medicine programme at a private university but her family is not able to afford the high tuition fees.

There are many answers parents and students want o know from the Education Ministry;

1.      Why must this be a perennial problem?

2.      If students with perfect scores are unable to get their preferred courses, is it simply due to limited places?

3.      If top scorers can easily gain admission into their preferred courses at top foreign universities, is it justifiable that they be                   denied their preferred courses by local public universities?

It is undeniable that there were allegations and suspicions in the past of unfair selection whenever such complaints cropped up.

The Education Minister must investigate why the above two top scorers have failed to obtain their preferred courses as well as to ensure that there will be transparency in the selection process. -The Rocket