KUALA LUMPUR: Former socio-cultural adviser to the government Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim has recommended that the government integrates the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) into the country’s mainstream education system.
He said this was to ensure that only one education system is practised in the country and avoid any confusion in syllabus that may occur in schools.
“If UEC is integrated into the mainstream education system, a new syllabus would have to be established in line with efforts to ensure a bright future for students of different races.
“At the same time, the sovereignty of the country and the dignity of Bahasa Melayu will be maintained,” he said during the Himpunan Kebangkitan Ummah event at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru.
Elaborating, Rais said the “voice” of the majority needed to be heeded by the government in any plan to come up with new policies.
“The ‘voice’ of the majority needs to be followed, not the minority. The wants and needs of the majority of parents and citizens should be the decisive ‘voice” in determining the future of education in the country,” he said.
On July 8, Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching was reported to have said she wanted UEC to be recognised by the end of the year, in line with one of the pledges Pakatan Harapan had made in its 14th general election manifesto.
She had said there was no need for the UEC issue to be brought before Parliament for debate.
However, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik later stated a different opinion on the matter.
He had said he wanted a more holistic approach which would not possibly cause a rift among the various races.
Maszlee had also voiced concerns that recognising the UEC may pose a threat to efforts to protecting the status of Bahasa Melayu as the national language