By Mohd Shukri Ishak
JAKARTA, Aug 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Final-year Malaysian medical students studying in Indonesia will sit for their Medical Profession Programme Student Competency Test (UKMPPD), better known as the Exit Exam, in Malaysia, on Aug 16.
In June this year, Bernama reported that Malaysian medical students applied to the Indonesian authorities to consider exempting them from the Exit Exam as many had returned to Malaysia and faced difficulty going back to Indonesia because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director of Education Malaysia in Indonesia (EMI), associate professor Dr Mior Harris Mior Harun said 134 students comprising 117 in the medical programmes and 17 in dentistry programmes (who are sitting for the Dentistry Profession Programme Graduate Competency Test UKMP2DG), will sit for the Exit Exam which will be held in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), at 10 a.m.
“Because of the difficulties facing the students entering and leaving both countries, Malaysia and Indonesia, the Ministry of Higher Education through the EMI sent a proposal to the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture (KEMENDIKBUD),” he said.
Speaking to Bernama, Mior Harris said discussions were held between the Malaysian Ministry of Education and the Education Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia.
The KEMENDIKBUD requires all medical students in Indonesia, including international students studying there, to sit for the Exit Exam.
After passing the Exit Exam, international students still have to meet the requirements of their own countries to be allowed to practise there.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Exit Exam which was scheduled for last May has been postponed until August.
Malaysian students faced various constraints after the rules for re-entry into Indonesia were tightened.