ALOR GAJAH Dec 19 - Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has received more than 10,000 applications from pupils with 5As in the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) for entry to the Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) for the school session beginning next month.

Mara Chairman Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said more than half the number had to be rejected because the MRSM throughout the country had offered only 3,000 places.

"The Mara policy on admission to the MSRM is strict. Hence we apologise to students who are unable to get in because of the limited number of places," he said at his Aidilfitri open house at Paya Rumput, Masjid Tanah here yesterady.

Abu Seman said there were 25 MRSMs in the country and only 15 of them offered places to Form One students.

Apart from outstanding results, MRSM also gave priority to those from poor families and students from remote areas, he said.

Successful applicants would receive offer letters by the middle of next month, he added.

Mara would not offer places in the MRSM to those who had been offered places in the Sekolah Menengah Sains or fully residential schools, he said.