Background

Malaysian Examinations Council (MEC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Education (MOE).It was established on the 1st. of February 1980 under the Malaysian Law and the Examinations Council Act 225. MEC was launched on the 22nd of April 1980 by Y Bhg Dato’ Musa Hitam, who was  the Minister of Education at that moment.

MEC was established in accordance to Section 7, Act 225 which holds the function to conduct specific examinations and all matters crucial or related to such examinations. The two examinations gazetted under our jurisdiction are Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and the Malaysian University English Test (MUET). The STPM examination, which began in 1982, was conducted to replace the Higher School Certificate (HSC)/Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan (STP) examination which were conducted by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). The Malaysian University English Test (MUET) began in December 1999.  This examination is compulsory for all STPM, Diploma, Matriculation, or pre-university students who intend to pursue their first degree in local universities.

In accordance with amendments in Act 225, MEC has assisted the MOE in organizing the Penilaian Tahap Kecekapan (PTK) / Efficiency Level Assessment examination which was introduced under Sistem Saraan Malaysia (SSM)/ the Malaysian Livelihood System since 2003. The examination is conducted for education officers and the Support Group (Kumpulan Sokongan). In addition, MEC has organized the Malaysian Information Technology Professional Examination (MITPE) since 2005. This examination evaluates individual mastery in the field of Information Technology.