General paper should apply to all pre-U students, says academic
Academic Teo Kok Seong argues that a proposed general paper requirement for UEC students should be applied to all pre-university students in Malaysia. He suggests that the focus should be on improving critical thinking skills across the entire education system rather than singling out one group.
Why it matters
The debate highlights ongoing tensions regarding the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and broader concerns about educational standards in Malaysia.
Dong Zong had reportedly rejected a proposal for UEC holders to also sit a general paper besides obtaining a credit in Bahasa Melayu at the SPM level.
PETALING JAYA: Any proposal to require students to sit a general paper should apply to all in Malaysia in pre-university pathways rather than just the United Examination Certificate (UEC) holders, says academic Teo Kok Seong.
Teo Kok Seong.
Teo, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said he supported the idea in principle, but warned against singling out UEC students when weak critical thinking was a broader concern.
“It’s not an isolated case. That is the trend today, not only among UEC students but also non-UEC students, as well as the STPM and matriculation students. They lack critical thinking,” he told FMT.
Teo said the problem should be addressed much earlier, noting that higher-order thinking skills had already been introduced at primary school level.
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