EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES, FORM SIX CONTINUES TO BE STRENGTHENED – DEPUTY MINISTER OF EDUCATION

NIBONG TEBAL, 15 June 2026 - Education is the key foundation for transforming lives and creating better opportunities for the future, especially for students from underprivileged families.

This was emphasised by Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Education, Wong Kah Woh during his engagement session held in conjunction with the 2026 Form Six Orientation Week at the Engineering Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia today.

In his speech, he shared his personal experience of continuing his studies in Form Six in 1999 and described the pathway as the most realistic and accessible educational opportunity available to him at that time.

According to him, education is not only a determinant of one’s future but also a platform for individuals to strive to improve their quality of life and achieve a better future.

YB Wong also highlighted the commitment of the Ministry of Education Malaysia in revitalising the image of Form Six through the implementation of the Form Six Within Campus Programme, which was introduced last year through collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

“This initiative aims to restore the golden era of Form Six and position it as one of the top choices for students after completing the SPM examination,” he said.

He acknowledged that the Form Six curriculum is among the more academically demanding pathways but expressed confidence that these challenges help shape students into individuals who are more resilient, mature, and better prepared for higher education.

“Through the concept of learning within a university campus environment, students also have the opportunity to experience university life firsthand and gain a closer pathway towards pursuing a degree,” he added.

According to him, a total of 47 students joined the programme at the USM campus last year, while this year has recorded 35 Semester 1 students to date. Although the number remains relatively small, he described the opportunity to be part of the pioneering group as a privilege that should be fully utilised.

Meanwhile, Form Six Within Campus student at USM, Nur Nadhirah Musyahadah, 19, from the first cohort of the Social Science stream, welcomed the proposal raised regarding a direct STPM admission pathway into public universities.

According to her, if implemented, the proposal could attract more SPM graduates to choose the Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM) as their primary option and further enhance recognition of the qualification as being on par with other pathways.

She also proposed that the ministry establish a dedicated official portal for the Form Six Within Campus Programme to ensure reliable and easily accessible information for students.

Nur Nadhirah also appreciated the Deputy Minister’s willingness to engage directly with students and listen to their views and suggestions, giving them confidence that student welfare and needs remain a priority.

Another student from the first cohort of the Form Six Within Campus Programme at USM, Law Li Jing, 19, from the Science stream, said one of the most inspiring messages was the emphasis that academic excellence alone is not the sole measure of success and should instead be balanced with ethics, knowledge, and critical thinking skills.

According to her, the message she remembered most was how every lesson learned throughout schooling, particularly during the challenging Form Six years, contributes to shaping students’ maturity and mindset.

“The advice of ‘no pain, no gain’ also served as motivation to continue giving our best in STPM studies,” she said.

Also present at the session was Professor Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar @ Mustapha, Campus Director of the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Text: Siti Faizah Abd Halim
Photo: Muhammad Taufik Abd Rahman