KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is against the government’s move to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
Its vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the UEC does not follow the National Education Policy thus, would only discourage unity among the people.
The UEC, which is issued to graduates of Chinese independent high schools, is currently recognised by local private higher education institutions and many universities overseas, as well as in Sarawak.
While Bahasa Melayu may be a subject under the certificate, it is of a lower standard compared to the SPM.
Ismail stressed that UEC does not adhere to the National Education Policy as he claims that the examination model is based on the respective Chinese vernacular schools, apart from including subjects modelled after Taiwanese examination and taught in Mandarin.
He argued that the UEC is only recognised by these schools.
“I believe that the Malays are against this recognition as it would lower the standards of national schools,” he said, adding that this could result in a bigger challenge for national school leavers to secure a job, if competing with those who hold the UEC.
Ismail said it would be more worrying if the UEC opens up the pathway for other certifications to be recognised, with educators abandoning National Education Policy.
“In the end, no one will respect the policy. The government should focus on effort to foster national unity and not put the people in such a situation.
“This (UEC) system which is being used in Taiwan does not include in the national education policy and is regarded as inconsistent with the policy which includes Bahasa Melayu as the main language in the country.
“A main language should be the core in every country as it (language) represents the nation,” he said.