The following is a statement from Member of Parliament for Klang, Ganabatirao Veraman on the global value of the STPM qualification. It has been published in its entirety.
Every year, thousands of brilliant Malaysian students complete the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) yet, this gold-standard qualification often remains overshadowed by less rigorous but more popular pathways. What many don’t realize is that STPM is not just a local examination; it is a globally respected credential, opening doors to top universities across the world, from Oxford and Melbourne to Yale and Heidelberg. As we strive toward becoming a knowledge-driven nation, it is time we give STPM the national recognition it truly deserves.
STPM, often dubbed as Malaysia’s equivalent of the A-Level, is a rigorous and comprehensive examination administered by the Malaysian Examinations Council (Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia). What sets it apart is its international recognition and academic robustness. Students who complete STPM are not only eligible for UPU applications to public universities in Malaysia but also enjoy broad acceptance in top universities abroad from the United Kingdom and Australia to Germany and the United States.
Unlike the matriculation system, which is largely catered to local university entrance and varies in terms of content and assessment from one stream to another, STPM offers a standardized curriculum that prepares students for a wide array of disciplines. The examinations are transparent, centrally moderated, and include both coursework and a final exam making it a fair and merit-based system.
In 2023, over 42,000 students took the STPM examination. Despite facing stiffer academic challenges, many of these candidates succeeded in securing spots in highly sought-after courses such as medicine, law, engineering, and accounting both locally and internationally. Top public universities, including Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Universiti Sains Malaysia, continue to admit STPM graduates based on their strong academic foundation and holistic readiness.
As a Member of Parliament deeply invested in the future of our youth, I urge students and parents alike to consider STPM not as a second-tier option, but as a premier pathway that promotes intellectual resilience, independence, and discipline. In fact, STPM students often excel in university due to the analytical and critical thinking skills developed during their pre-university years.
Moreover, STPM is cost-effective. It is conducted in government schools, which reduces the financial burden on families, especially those from B40 and M40 groups. Students are able to stay close to home, save on tuition fees, and still receive an education that opens global doors.
When considering applications through the UPU system, STPM results should be viewed with equal if not greater esteem. Many top courses in medicine, law, engineering, and accounting accept STPM students who have shown consistency and strength across all three terms of their studies. The process is competitive, but fair. Students with good STPM results are often offered prestigious places, sometimes over their matriculation counterparts, due to the perceived rigor of the examination.
In fact, statistics from previous admission cycles show that STPM candidates consistently represent a significant proportion of offers to highly competitive university programmes. This reaffirms the credibility and depth of the STPM curriculum and evaluation framework.
It is time to change the narrative surrounding STPM. We must stop thinking of it as the “harder path” and start recognizing it as the smarter path. We must equip our teachers, counselors, and communities with the information needed to guide our students wisely. More outreach programs, career talks, and government-backed campaigns should be initiated to promote STPM as a first-choice option.
As policymakers, educators, and citizens, we must ensure that all educational pathways are respected and supported. But above all, we must reaffirm that STPM remains one of Malaysia’s strongest academic pillars that builds not just scholars, but thinkers, leaders, and global citizens.
Let us rally together to elevate the status of STPM and give our students the confidence to pursue this noble path. The future of Malaysia lies not just in our institutions, but in the strength of the minds we cultivate today.