Despite of many objections from various sections of the Malay community, government has decided to open 10% of the entrance intake for non-bumiputeras in MARA Junior Science Colleges for Form One students. This opportunity is opened to all those who scored 5As’ and 7As’ in the UPSR.
In order to monitor the intake, YB Dato Seri’ S. Samy Vellu has appointed the Sosial Strategic Foundation (YSS) as the secretariat to assist these young brilliant kids to enrol into MRSM.
MRSM has offered 237 places for Indian students who scored straight As’ in UPSR 2003 but unfortunately the turnout was very low. Only 129 students registered to continue their secondary school studies in MRSM. Over 45% or 108 students turned down the offer.
Table below shows the total amount of places offered and taken by the Indian students:
Forms
Places offered to Indian Students
Places taken by Indian Students
Percentage of the total amount
Form 1
237
129
54.43
Form 2
144
113
78.47
Source: MARA Headquarters
Based on the analysis from the table, YSS found that the percentage of students who turned down the offer was very high among the Form One Indian students which is about 46% whereas only 22% of the Form Four Indian students rejected the offer.
YSS came to a conclusion that there are factors contributing to this situation:
Students
Form One students are physically and mentally not matured enough to take care of themselves.
They are easily influenced and they just follow their friends’ footsteps to apply into MRSM without deeper consideration.
Parents
Some of the parents are forcing their children to get into MRSM just for the sake of face value without taking their children’s interests into account.
Most of the Indian Community do not bring their children up independently because to them a 12-year-old child is just a kid that does not know how to differentiate between good and bad.
Most of the Indian parents failed to brief their kids on the lifestyles in residential schools or colleges.
MRSM
Intake in each MRSM is not as promised because there were no grouping systems. Earlier they ensured around 50 – 60 Indian students would be grouped in each MRSM. Many parents feel that their children’s needs would be neglected because of the small amount of Indian students in each MRSM.
Some of the food caterers at the MRSM give less priority to the vegetarians (however, they have been improving).
Community
The lack of awareness among the local leaders in the nearby communities regarding the importance of visiting the Indian students.
They do not take this as a serious matter. Only one or two local leaders volunteer themselves to be responsible for the Indian students’ needs there.
The table below shows the 6 MRSM Colleges that have the highest number of the Indian students in Form One.
Number
MRSM
Total Indian students
1
MRSM Kuala Klawang
38
2
MRSM Batu Pahat
19
3
MRSM Pontian
18
4
MRSM Kuala Lipis
14
5
MRSM Kuala Kubu Bharu
10
6
MRSM Terendak
12
Total
111
(The number was taken during the YSS officers visit to the MRSM. The 28 absentees were the number of students who left the colleges after enrolled in MRSM)
YSS hopes that anybody who reads this article will come forward to voluntarily help to monitor our children in MRSM. They need our support and encouragement to pursue their studies in a Malay dominant college. May your good deeds help our children out there.
Report by:
Social Strategic Foundation
07 Sept 2004
Address:
Tingkat 5, Menara Manickavasagam No 1, Jalan Rahmat, 50350 Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
Phone:
6-03-4041 5958
Fax: 6-03-4041 5681
Email:
enquiries@yss98.com
