KUALA NERANG (Bernama): The government has agreed to maintain the enrolment policy of students to Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM), regardless of the type of school they are from, in line with the "Malaysian Family” concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said all students were entitled to the opportunity to continue their studies at the colleges and the proposed policy changes on the matter announced earlier were not applicable.

       "The college is a long-standing education fixture, so I want to emphasise today that the Rural Development Ministry, after discussing with Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) officials and leadership, has agreed to return to the original policy.

       "It means that students of (government-aided) religious schools, SJKC (national type Chinese Chinese schools), and SJKT (national type Tamil schools) can also apply," he told a press conference after presenting a donation by Persatuan Wanita Tenaga Nasional Berhad (Pelitawanis TNB) to the Kuala Nerang Hospital here on Sunday (Sept 5).

       Several opposition leaders had previously voiced their objection to the new conditions for admission to the colleges, that it would accept only students from national schools.

       The colleges' official website for 2022 admission stated, among others, that admission for Form One and Form Four students was limited to applications from national primary and second schools only.

       Previously, enrolment only required applicants to be Malaysian citizens and was open to students attending schools in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

       Mahdzir said the eligibility and selection of students would be based on the Entry Tendency Test which will evaluate their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects as well as the students’ personalities.

       Apart from that, he said the 10% intake quota of non-bumiputra students would remain and there was no change in line with the concept of "Malaysian Family".

       "The colleges can only accommodate a total of 7,500 Form One students and 2,000 Form Four students for each annual intake although 77,834 have applied for a place in Form One and 24,495 for Form Four for the 2022 term,” he said.

       He said Mara's policy also aimed to provide a 60% quota to outstanding students from B40 families to study at the colleges.

       "The education system there aims to pave the way for secondary education opportunities so as to produce bumiputra students who are holistic, excellent in academics, science, technology and entrepreneurship.

       "Its education system is also slightly different from other education systems in terms of cognitive ability and student personality.

       "Mara Junior Science College gathers excellent students with high potential in line with the implementation of its character development programme based on its core values of Sikap (Scientific, Independent, Creative, Trustworthy and Patriotic),” he added.

       There are 55 colleges nationwide that can accommodate 37,198 students. – Bernama