FOCUS ON NATION-BUILDING - 关于UEC与国家教育和公民目标的讨论

Aug 13, 2026

Discussion centers on renewed scrutiny of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and its alignment with national education and civic formation goals. National education leaders argue recognition should be rooted in Federal Constitutional principles, including the constitutional role of Bahasa Melayu as a unifying pillar. The debate highlights concerns that education-stream separation could weaken shared civic identity, while reform proposals consider requiring compulsory, examinable Bahasa Melayu mastery and reflective civic education without compromising academic rigor.

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UEC scrutiny and recognition

Constitutional basis for language and unity

Concerns about civic formation gaps

Reform proposals and governance alignment

# FOCUS ON NATION-BUILDING' ed levels,structured inclusion ofMalaysian history,constitutionalstudies,civic education and par-ticipation in quality assurancemechanisms recognised by na-tional authorities. Examination of UECissue must be rootedin Constitution,national educationpolicy,says don the need for a sober,principledexamination rooted in the Fed-eral Constitution,national edu-cation policy and Malaysia's na-tion-building aspirations. He cited Article 152 of the Con-stitution,which establishes Ba-hasa Melayu as the national lan-guage,emphasising its role as aunifying pillar for a plural soci-ety. He said prolonged structuralseparation of education streamscould weaken shared civic iden-tity. "Academic excellence and na-tional unity are not competinggoals;they are mutually reinforc-ing.” The UEC,administered by theUnited Chinese School Commit-tees'Association of Malaysia,orDong Zong,is the examinationsystem for Chinese independenthigh schools. JULIANNA JALALUDDIN KUALA LUMPURjulianna.jalaluddin@nst.com.my The UEC is widelyacknowledged forits rigour.However,anyqualification seekingrecognition for entryinto public universitiesor government servicemust demonstrate.meaningful andexaminable proficiencyin Bahasa Melayu andreflect national history,constitutional literacyand civic education. NST 14-12.2025 PG:y Recognition,he said,must beguided by constitutional princi-ples,national standards and thecollective aspirations of the na-tion. Certificate(UEC),long atthe centre of Malaysia'seducation debates,facesrenewed scrutiny over its align-ment with national educationand civic goals,said NationalCouncil of Professors presidentEmeritus Professor Datuk DrRaduan Che Rose. Dong Zong has repeatedly ad-vocated for UEC recognition,not-ing its international acceptanceand high academic standards. Controversy over the UECreignited this week when DAPdeputy chairman Nga Kor Mingsaid party officials would meetPrime Minister Datuk Seri AnwarIbrahim to discuss the examina-tion's recognition. Recent headlines have focusedon proposals to benchmark theUEC's Bahasa Melayu papers toSijil Pelajaran Malaysia stan-dards,following calls by govern-ment authorities to ensure align-ment with national language pro-ficiency. Speaking to the New SundayTimes,Raduan said while theUEC is“academically strong,itoperates outside the nationalcurriculum governance frame-work”,raising concerns about apotential gap between academicachievement and civic forma-tion. On Friday,Anwar said anyclaims that lead to religious,racial and ethnic sensitivitiesmust take into account the po-sition of the national language inthe Constitution. While Dong Zong has expressedopenness to these measures,itsaid it had yet to receive a formalofferfromthe Education Ministryon recognition. He said the dignity of the Malaylanguage must be elevated in ac-cordance with its position in theConstitution and mastery mustbe strengthened among the peo-ple. EMERITUS PROFESSOR DATUKDR RADUAN CHE ROSE Raduan said rather than out-right acceptance or rejection,the“more constructive question”iswhether the UEC could convergewith national standards withoutcompromising academic rigour. "The UEC is widely acknowl-edged for its rigour.However,anyqualification seeking recognitionfor entry into public universitiesor government service mustdemonstrate meaningful and ex-aminable proficiency in BahasaMelayu,and reflect national his-tory,constitutional literacy,and National Council of Professors president He said only after that can pro- posals to strengthen the mastery civiceducation” He outlined reforms,includingof other languages and recogni-compulsory and examinable Ba-tion of the UEC could be put for-hasa Melayu at nationally accept-ward. He said while the debate overUEC recognition has often beenpolitically charged,he stressed BERITA HARIAN口UTUSAN M'SIA口N. STRAITS TIME TARIKH:14 DISEMBER 2025(AHAD) THE STAR国SINAR HARIAN Te:03-8884 6425 Faks:03-8884

FAQs

为什么对UEC的国家认可以及其教育目标进行重新审视？

因为围绕UEC与国家教育与公民目标的衔接问题出现了新的关注，需要评估其与国家标准和语言要求的对齐程度。

国家层面认为UEC认可应当以哪些原则为依据？

强调应由宪法原则和国家标准引导，尤其要考虑联邦宪法中关于语言地位与国家统一的规定。

讨论中提出了哪些改革方向以加强对UEC的对齐而不削弱学术严谨？

提到应强化并使巴哈萨马来语成为必修且可考的能力要求，同时让资格在反映国家历史、宪法素养和公民教育方面具备可衡量性。

Aug 13, 2026

Upload by Emma Wilson