Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

July 3, 2020

Weighing on Diverse Circumstances

Senior and Junior UEC to Be Held Separately

In conjunction with the further alleviation and confinement of coronavirus spread, graduating students had been given the greenlight to take the lead to resume studies in schools on 24 June whereas students from other levels would follow suit on 15 July. The Ministry of Education likewise had pronounced the SPM examination to be held from 6 January to 9 February 2021.

Corresponding to this pronouncement, an ad hoc meeting was held by Dong Jiao Zong MICSS Working Committee recently to finalise the examination dates for both the Senior and Junior UEC. The UEC Examination Committee indeed had taken all accounts into consideration repeatedly, including the impacts that might ensue raised in proposals submitted, lest there would be inappropriateness in addressing the critical challenge of this new norm. The considerations are, namely, the completion of curriculum, the safety of candidates and invigilators, the operation of the schools, the maximisation of learning time, the quality control and operation of the UEC and the needs of tertiary studies, let alone the assessment of the three-week class resumption duration between senior and junior students as well as the timetable of government public examination to minimise the harm of changing examination dates towards next academic year’s learning progress.

In the abovementioned ad hoc meeting, the following examination dates are scheduled:

• The Senior UEC Examination is scheduled to be held from 2 December to 8 December 2020; and
• The Junior UEC Examination is to be held from 28 December to 31 December 2020.

Dong Jiao Zong reiterates, the UEC is a standardised examination thus stability, reliability and commensurability is demanded. Moreover, the UEC has been held for the past 45 years, be it rain or shine thus far, its reliability and academic status must hence be safeguarded prudentially and professionally.

Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

May 14, 2020

In response to the news pointing out that “UEC holders will no longer enjoy the exemption of Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) for admission to universities in China” reported on Chinese media, Dong Jiao Zong hereby releases its statement as follows:

1. The Malaysia Independent Chinese Secondary Schools provide mother tongue education; Chinese is their main medium of instruction and their students sit for the UEC (Unified Examination for Independent Chinese Secondary Schools). In 2004, the Culture Department of the China Embassy in Malaysia issued a written notice from the Ministry of Education of China stating the exemption of UEC holders from taking HSK prior to tertiary admission. As such, since 2004, UEC holders have been admitted to universities in China smoothly without sitting for HSK and it in actual fact encourages UEC holders to further their studies in China.
2. During the second half of last year, a handful of UEC holders studying in China informed that a minor number of universities in China demanded HSK from UEC holders. Immediate remedied work, including communicating the relevant universities and China Embassy in Malaysia, was embarked by Dong Jiao Zong and relevant materials were submitted for clarification. It was acknowledged that the China Embassy had rendered their support and addressed the issue proactively.
3. Dong Jiao Zong recently received a letter dated May 13 “in regards to the Exemption of HSK for Admission to Universities” from the Culture Department of the China Embassy addressing to all universities and higher education institutions in China. In the letter, 63 schools were listed, namely, the sixty MICSSs and two branches and the UEC-sitting SM Chung Hwa Kuantan. It stated students from the listed schools can use the duplicate copy of that legalisation letter to request for exemption of HSK and they can get admission with merely the UEC certificate. Further, the letter likewise reconfirmed the ongoing execution of the notice “Regarding Conditional Exemption of the HSK for Foreign Students” issued by the International Cooperation and Interaction Bureau of the China Ministry of Education in year 2004. Acknowledgement is herewith due to the Culture Department of the China Embassy in Malaysia for its proactive assistance and facilitation.

Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

April 27, 2020

Senior and Junior UEC Examination Postponed to December—

May Reschedule When Movement Control Order Lift

Due to uncertainty derived from the coronavirus alert, the government had resorted to postponement or cancellation of public examinations. In response to the severe circumstance, the following decisions were approved in the ad hoc meeting held by the MICSS Unified Examination Committee recently:

1. The Senior and Junior UEC examination to be postponed to December 2020; and
2. The timetable for the said examination will be pronounced when the schools are reopened upon the stability of the coronavirus spread.

Dong Jiao Zong emphasises that the UEC is a standardised examination thus stability, reliability and commensurability is demanded. Moreover, the UEC has been held for the past 45 years be it rain or shine thus far, its reliability and academic status must be safeguarded prudentially and professionally.

Ensuing the pronouncement made by the Prime Minister on April 23 to once again prolong the Movement Control Order until May 12, Dong Jiao Zong will consistently pay close attention to the matter and observe the final exit strategy and latest guidelines for informed decision on the time of examination for public attention.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

26 APRIL 2020

Standing by Our Fallen Heroine’s Family

We have to stand by our medical front-liners who fight the Covid-19 outbreak with their lives.

The tragic demise of Nadila Rahmat, the nurse in Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital, Muar, Johor, has taken away the eldest daughter from her parents, the eldest sister from her four siblings and the sole breadwinner for her family. We are called to fill the void economically as much as we can, as if her family is our own.

Her demise is a great loss to society and the nation: for her hospital, a dedicated staff member with 10-year experience; for her patients, a nurse who would attend to their pain at any time; for Malaysia, a heroine who loyally answered the call to fight the pandemic on the front-lines.

We cannot replace such a noble soul. We can only mourn with tears. In the wake of the shattering pain of loss, we can reach within our means to do what we can, to honour her contribution and sacrifice and provide some encouragement for her family. The smile of a nurse can lighten the pain of her patients. We pray that similarly this little donation we have collected will lighten the burden of her family.

We, United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) and the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) have collected RM 65,000 in donations and transferred it to the late Nadila Rahmat’s family.

We thank Dr Musa Mohd Nordin from KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital for connecting us with her family. Friends who would like to contribute may do so by banking into the family’s account: Maybank, 151089316135, RODIAH BINTI MOHD DON and informing her family by email: [email protected] or WhatsApp:+60 13-635 3528.

United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong)

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

March 18, 2020

Bachelor Degree of Teaching Programme (PISMP) Opens for UEC Applicants—

Dong Jiao Zong Urges UEC Holders to Actively Apply

1. The Ministry of Education will intake its Bachelor Degree of Teaching Programme (henceforth PISMP-UEC) 2020 candidates from UEC holders from March 23 to March 31. Dong Jiao Zong reckons that this programme is specially opened to UEC holders with SPM certificate. Therefore, interested candidates are urged to browse the official website of the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia (http://ipgm.moe.edu.my/), and apply directly on March 23 online (https://pismp.moe.gov.my/). Applicants are advised not to purchase Application Code in Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) and fill up the form in the Unit Pengambilan Universiti (UPU). According to the requirements set forth by the Ministry of Education, UEC applicants should not exceed 20 years of age (on June 30, 2020) and get distinction in Bahasa Melayu and English, pass History in the SPM and earn three extinctions in the UEC.
2. Ever since the MOE commences its intake for PISMP-UEC in February, Dong Jiao Zong has been keeping an eye closely to ensure if the government continues running the said programme during the political turbulence to assure its continuity. Therefore, with the formation of the new Cabinet and the signing in of the new Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, Jiao Zong had taken the initiative to remind Datuk Mah of the PISMP-UEC 2020 intake and beseeched him to see to the matter. Dong Jiao Zong is relieved to learn that the said intake for UEC holders will begin next week and thus herewith encourages interested UEC holders to apply actively to dedicate their bit to the advancement of Chinese education on this soil. Under the extant system, teachers with Bachelor degree can enjoy an extra RM2,300 in their starting salary, putting other government servant allowances together, the monthly salary for a fresh teacher is RM3,000.00, let alone enjoying the various welfare and benefits in the person of a government servant.
3. Dong Jiao Zong understands that the PISMP-UEC has been opened since 2011, and 20 vacancies are allocated for Chinese teaching posts in Chinese vernacular school across the country. Attributed to various reasons, the vacancies unfortunately have never been filled totally. That said, Dong Jiao Zong hereby beseeches all MICSS, state members of Dong Zong and Chinese Schools Teacher Union to put more efforts in the propagation of this programme thus to encourage more UEC holders to teach in Chinese vernacular schools. Dong Jiao Zong will pay close attention to the UEC application matter; in case any difficulties arise in application, feel free to contact Jiao Zong (Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp to the official number 011-58524692). Meanwhile, Dong Jiao Zong also reminds those who had applied to similarly submit their information to Jiao Zong for follow-up matters.