Tears and frustration after glitch at USM

THERE were tears of anger and frustration from hundreds of “successful”

applicants to the country’s apex university yesterday when they were told there were no places for them.

The students, many from other states, had turned up at Universiti Sains Malaysia in the morning after learning about “problems” with their acceptance.

USM immediately issued an apology over the “technical error” but that did not soothe the anger or the chaotic situation at the university.

An angry parent even called for an investigation by the Ministry of Higher Education, while many “successful” students were worried that USM’s error could jeopardise their chances of getting a place in other universities.

This is the first year that USM is conducting its own intake of undergraduates, in line with its status as an apex university with the freedom to choose only the best students.

The intake for other universities is handled by the University

Admissions Unit.

USM acting vice-chancellor Prof Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal said the university had wrongly uploaded the names of all applicants on its website as successful candidates.

“There were only 3,599 successful applicants but the

names of all 8,173 were uploaded,” he said.

He said the 8,173 students were pre-qualified to enter the university from a total of 22,000 applicants.

“They met the minimum criteria but after the final selection, only 3,599 were selected.

“The remaining names will be submitted to the University Admissions Unit for selection into other universities.”

Ahmad Shukri said USM only realised the mistake on Saturday, some 24 hours after the names of the students were put up on the website on Friday.

Expressing regret over the incident, Ahmad Shukri pledged that USM would do whatever it could to assist the students.

The unexpected turn of events prompted affected students and their parents to swamp USM yesterday.

About 200 students crowded the office of the USM registrar from early morning to enquire about their enrolment status.

Tan Swan, 19, who had applied to enrol in the dentistry

programme, was shocked that her enrolment at USM had actually been unsuccessful.

“It was a short-lived joy for me as I have been looking forward

to study at USM.

“This is confusing... two days ago I was a successful candidate and now I am not,” she said.

Another student, Yoong Hooi Li, 20, said she was disheartened by the setback and demanded an explanation from USM.

“I am saddened by the rejection and my tertiary education prospects now hang in the balance,” said Yoong, who applied to join the accountancy

programme.

A parent whose daughter was also affected by the glitch, said it was incomprehensible for USM to make such a blunder.

“USM is an apex university and to commit such a blunder is unacceptable.

“It is shocking and the Ministry of Higher Education owes us an explanation,” said the parent, who declined to be named.