2020 IPTA intake to proceed as planned

PETALING JAYA: Admission into public higher education institutions (IPTAs) for the 2020/2021 academic year will go on as scheduled, says Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, to allay concerns among parents and school-leavers that this year’s IPTA intake would be pushed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 crisis.

He clarified during a Skype press conference on Wednesday that there would not be two IPTA intakes next year to cater to the supposed postponement of this year’s intake.

“This year’s intake into IPTAs will proceed as usual unless the Higher Education Ministry decides otherwise,” he added.

This decision affects successful applicants into public universities, teacher education institutes, matriculation colleges, polytechnics, community colleges and public skills training institutes.

In response, the Higher Education Ministry said applications for IPTAs will be open until today through UPUOnline.

“Offers are expected to be made on June 3 to SPM applicants and Aug 18 for STPM/equivalent applicants.

“Public universities are expected to welcome new students this year to their foundation and diploma (including matriculation) programmes in either July or August and the bachelor programmes in October,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

It said SPM and STPM candidates who would be sitting for their exams in the first quarter of 2021 would enrol in public universities next year for the 2021/2022 academic year.

Enrolment for foundation and diploma programmes, including matriculation, will be in either July or August 2021, while enrolment for degree programmes will be in October 2021.