The review of the United Examination Certificate (UEC) by the National Accreditation Board (LAN) is a 'normal practice' and nobody should be unduly alarmed by it, a deputy minister said today.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Fu Ah Kiow explained that the move was to enable LAN to gauge the suitability of the UEC for which level of entrance into private institutions of higher learning.

"Maybe it is suitable for the second year of diploma, or the third year...this is what LAN is trying to find out. It is a normal procedure and no quarters need to be alarmed by this review," he told malaysiakini at Parliament lobby.

Asked when the review report will be completed, Fu replied, "Under normal circumstances, five months."

He however refused to comment when asked whether the study was a signal from the government that it is on the way to recognise the UEC.

Sensitive issue

UEC is an examination run by local Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ) since 1975. Except for Malaysia, it is recognised by the United Kingdom, United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Singapore.

Students with UEC are not allowed to enter public universities here. However, private colleges have accepted them.

Chinese educationists have been trying to convince the government to recognise the UEC which they claim is of a very high standard and is acknowledged internationally.

They have constantly accused the government of sidelining Chinese education, stating that this was the reason why UEC was never given its due recognition.

In May this year, LAN issued an order that students who enter private colleges with UEC, A-Levels and overseas matriculation programmes must pass the Malay language in their SPM exams.

This drew flak from DJZ as they feared that the policy will eliminate the educational opportunity of students from Chinese independent schools.

Later, Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Salleh clarified that students with UEC would be exempted from the new policy.

However, in a letter dated Sept 2, LAN had requested for the UEC syllabus. Its senior manager of public accreditation Zokrie Othman later confirmed that LAN has submitted the review of UEC to the Ministry of Higher Education.

Meanwhile, Dong Jiao Zong executive officer Bock Tai Hee said they have yet to receive any response from LAN about the review.

The UEC is restricted to students from 60 independent Chinese secondary schools in Malaysia.