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DAPSY will send memorandum calling for single admission system to public universities Press Statement by Loke Siew Fook (Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): DAPSY National Executive Council which met in Ipoh last Sunday, May 25 had unanimously resolved to take a policy position to call for the abolishment of the different examination system for admission to public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) in the country and instead introduce a single admission system for all students vying for places in public universities as the first step to genuine meritocracy in our higher education system.   The so-called “meritocracy system” in the admission to public universities introduced by the government last year is without merit as it provides the illusion without the substance of meritocracy. A selection system which based on different examination systems which is not only different in format but a huge gap in terms of academic standards is without merit whatsoever and unfair to the students and the country.   It is public knowledge that the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) examination system which is the main path for non-Bumiputera students to enter public universities is one of the most difficult examination systems in the world and internationally recognized as it is based on external examination and 100 per cent evaluated through written exam standardized for all students throughout the country.   However, matriculation system which is almost exclusively reserved for Bumiputera students to enter public universities is different in formats and standards with STPM. Evaluation of students in matriculation centers is based on the combination of internal examinations and course work. Furthermore, internal examination is set by the lecturers and it is their prerogative to set the marking scheme.   Therefore, the abolishment of different entrance examination system to public universities and the introduction of a single admission system for all students is the best solution to create a genuine meritocracy in our higher education system.   DAPSY will send memorandums outlining our proposals to reform the university entrance examination system to the Higher Education Department in Kuala Lumpur at 11.00 a.m. on this Friday, May 30 and simultaneously to the state education departments in four other cities namely Penang, Ipoh, Malacca and Johor Bahru. (28/5/2003) * Loke Siew Fook,  APSY National Secretary