KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry today (July 9) said that it is planning to introduce cost-of-living allowances for Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) students to attract more interest in the programme.
Its deputy minister, Wong Kah Woh, said the ministry is also considering allowances for Form Six senior assistant teachers and a higher per capita grant rate for STPM subjects.
These initiatives, he said, were in line with the Form Six Education Development Plan 2024–2030 launched last May.
"Regarding the ministry's effort to attract the interest of students and boost teacher morale, under the education development plan, we have four initiatives, including ensuring the standards of Form Six colleges," said Wong.
"We are studying a higher per capita grant rate for STPM subjects. We are also proposing and studying cost-of-living allowances for students and allowances for Form Six senior assistant teachers."
Wong was responding to a supplementary question from Mohd Hasnizan Harun (PN-Hulu Selangor) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
However, he said, the proposals were in their initial stages.
Rodiyah Sapiee (GPS-Batang Sadong) asked whether the ministry was planning to reform Form Six education soon.
Wong said the Form Six Education Development Plan 2024-2030 focused on enhancing facilities and infrastructure of the ministry's centres, including empowering the STPM examination curriculum.
"Under the plan, the ministry listed seven objectives, including establishing Form Six as the primary pathway and choice for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders to continue their studies.
"Among others, we aim to strengthen the Form Six education system to be more attractive and comparable to other pre-university pathways.
"We also aim to improve the employability of STPM graduates both domestically and internationally; provide more career opportunities; foster leadership qualities; and, develop the professionalism of Form Six teachers."
He said the ministry remained committed to empowering and elevating Form Six education by taking into account all aspects to ensure that this pathway remained one of the primary choices for SPM holders to pursue higher education.