UEC is a standardised test for Chinese independent high school students in Malaysia, in place since 1975. It is recognised globally, even by Oxford University, but not in Malaysia itself.
In a Borneo Post Online report, Zahid said the results of the study would then be presented to Prime Minister Najib Razak.
“I understand the important and crucial recognition of UEC has yet to be resolved to this day. Furthermore, it was an issue close to the heart of the late Adenan Satem, which he had put much commitment into,” he said at a recent Chinese New Year celebration in Kuching.
“I will ask for the education minister to carry out an in-depth study on the recognition before presenting it to the Prime Minister so he can bring it to the cabinet and come up with a solution.”
Zahid also said Sarawakian federal ministers, including minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri, would follow the matter closely and “be the voice” of Sarawak-Chinese at the future tabling of recognition for the UEC in the cabinet.
Under Adenan’s administration, Sarawak formally recognised UEC for employment in the state civil service and for admission into state-owned colleges and universities, as well as to apply for Yayasan Sarawak education loans.
The UEC, which was developed in Malaysia, is recognised by a host of top universities around the world, including the California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Oxford University, University of Cambridge, University of Toronto and the National University of Singapore (NUS) among others.
But in Malaysia, the UEC isn’t recognised by the higher education ministry for admission into local public universities.
In recent times the UEC has become a contentious issue, especially during elections with political parties trying to using it as a tool for political mileage.
Supporters of UEC say Malaysia stands to lose out by not recognising the certificate, while critics say it isn’t in line with the National Education Policy.