Form 6, matriculation students to be reclassified under higher education from 2027, says PM Anwar

Anwar speaking at the launch of the National Education Development Plan (RPN) 2026–2035 at Dewan Perdana, Putrajaya International Convention Centre on Jan 20, 2026. Photo: SHAHNAZ FAZLIE/Pejabat Perdana Menteri

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Jan 21: Form 6 and matriculation students will officially be placed under the higher education system beginning 2027, with the Ministry of Higher Education taking full charge of pre-university education, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced yesterday (Jan 20).

According to MalayMail, Anwar said the move means Form 6 and matriculation students will no longer be regarded as school pupils, but instead recognised as part of the higher education ecosystem.

“Form 6 and matriculation students will no longer be considered school pupils. They will now fall under the category of higher education,” he said in his speech at the launch of the National Education Development Plan (RPN) 2026–2035 at Dewan Perdana, Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Form Six and matriculation programmes will come under the Ministry of Higher Education from 2027 as part of reforms under the National Education Development Plan 2026–2035. Photo: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook

He explained that the restructuring was prompted by longstanding concerns over limited access to popular university programmes, particularly affecting minority students who performed excellently in examinations but were unable to secure university placements.

To address the issue, Anwar said the government has requested universities to create an additional 1,500 places in high-demand courses.

“To ease the concerns of some students, priority has traditionally been given to matriculation and foundation students. However, Form 6 (STPM) students are also guaranteed priority admission, particularly those with a CGPA of 4.0,” he said.

While acknowledging that course placement may still depend on university capacity, Anwar assured that efforts would be made to ensure deserving students are offered places.

He added that universities will also expand enrolment in key fields including law, accounting, finance and banking, Islamic finance, artificial intelligence (AI), economics, Malay and English studies, communication, media studies, data science, data analytics and computer science. This expansion will add a total of 3,000 new places this year.

Anwar also highlighted persistent challenges related to student accommodation, noting that housing in and around major cities remains costly and limited.

“The government has instructed all government-linked investment companies (GLICs) to work with universities to develop student accommodation and give priority to student housing,” he said.

He added that initial discussions have already taken place, with selected universities expected to begin implementing student housing projects later this year. — DayakDaily