KUCHING: Admissions to the Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School (YSISS) are based on merit and have no connection to racial background.

Sarawak Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee said student selections are based on exam results while also considering their socio-economic status.

“When students apply to sit for the exam, they must achieve at least Band 5 in Year 6 and need to apply through their headmasters to get recommendations.

“In September, all students who apply will sit for an exam conducted by Yayasan Sarawak in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology,” he said.

He said this in a press conference at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex on Wednesday.

For the second selection criterion, Datuk Dr Annuar mentioned that students who pass the exam would undergo a further screening based on their socio-economic status, not racial background.

“This screening is based on their socio-economic background, namely B40, M40, or T20.

“So, the top T20 will be selected, the top M40 will be selected, the top B40 will be selected, and there’s absolutely no relation to your racial background.

“That is the point I want to stress, as the admissions are genuinely based on their socio-economic background, along with their exam results,” he asserted.

At present, there are two YSISS campuses, in Petra Jaya and Mile 12, which have received student enrollments consisting of 36.2 per cent Malay, 19.1 per cent Iban, 18.7 per cent Chinese, 7.9 per cent Melanau, 3.7 per cent Orang Ulu, and 2.2 per cent from other backgrounds.

Based on these percentages, Datuk Dr Annuar explained that the distribution is influenced by demographics in the areas where YSISS campuses are located.

“That’s why the breakdown looks like this, but when YSISS opens in Betong, Sibu, Miri, and Bintulu, it may change slightly.

“But that’s not important because the key point is that all these students are accepted based on two factors, namely exam results and socio-economic status,” he added. -UKASnews