It seems to be an annual rite of May that top students in the SPM will cry out in dismay that they did not receive scholarships to study overseas or get the courses of their choice in local universities even though they fulfilled the criteria for selection. My symphaties are with them for their crushed hopes but let's take a look at the criteria here :
Currently, Ong Tee Keat said, the selection is based on four criteria - merit (20%), race (60%), Sabah and Sarawak citizens (10%) and students from underprivileged groups (10%).
He said if meritocracy was part of the criteria, the students’ co-curriculum activities and interviews should not be included for consideration.
“Meritocracy means it should solely be the students’ results and not any other areas,” he said.
So for all the crying and gnashing of teeth, I hope that our top SPM students realize that all the effort they put in will gain them marks in only 20% of the total score. Maybe it's brutal, but it's a reality that they face at the moment.
So let's be practical here. There are 4 choices available to them :
* Appeal, but don't get your hopes up too high
* Accept what is offered
* Make your own way with your own funds
* Go to Singapore. They'll be happy to take you in.
As for Ong Tee Keat saying that ECA and interviews should not be included for consideration - that's crap. According to Dictionary.com, meritocracy is "A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement". As far as I can see, ECA falls under ability and achievement. And interviews are regularly used by many universities as criteria for acceptance and scholarships.
In any case, why is OTK talking about merit when it constitutes only 20% of the score ? Perhaps he's missing the forest for the trees ? Maybe even deliberately ?
That's 20% assuming that everything is above board which, as we know, isn't always the case in Malaysia.
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