· Unified placement system for MRSM, SBP, and specialised schools to begin in 2026.
· 60% of seats reserved for students from B40 households.
· Applications to be submitted via Special School Application System and MyMRSM.
From 2026 onwards, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) will introduce a single placement system for the admission of students into specialist schools, namely Fully Residential Schools (SBP), MARA Junior Science Colleges (MRSM), and other special schools. This move aims to remove duplicate offers and provide a more efficient and fairer admission system.
The new system is intended to enhance fairness and transparency, with a special emphasis on inclusivity. Under this reform, 60% of placements will be reserved for students from B40 households in rural and urban low-income communities. The initiative also seeks to maximise enrolment levels and enhance use of school resources across the board.
Under the MOE, national school students (Sekolah Kebangsaan or SK) and national-type schools (SJK) will use the Special School Application System. Students from schools not registered with the MOE will make their applications using the MyMRSM platform, administered by MARA.
In a shared announcement, MOE and MARA reiterated their efforts towards enhancing the education system through prioritising access to quality education on an equitable basis. The new centralised system is intended to provide all students with an equal opportunity for education irrespective of their socioeconomic status.
This action demonstrates a wider initiative by the two agencies to synchronize Malaysia's specialist school intakes with national targets of inclusive education and social mobility. The reform is also set to confer benefits not just on students and their parents but also teachers and society at large by creating more balanced and merit-based allocations.
