PM: Give space to higher learning institutions to create new ideas

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wants the leadership of institutions of higher learning to be given the space and relaxation to spur new ideas in the country’s education.

The prime minister said the move was important to ensure higher learning institutions in the country are capable of competing at the regional and global level, thus producing graduates who are disciplined and of high quality. 

“The Higher Education Ministry only needs to coordinate the programmes to prevent overlapping or arising problems but giving more space to universities, will see more better programmes if we do not change the leadership,” he said.

He was speaking at the Higher Education Ministry Strategic Discourse at Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, which was also attended by Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir today.

Based on his experience as a teaching staff including as a visiting fellow at several universities, Anwar saw that the Western education system has its weaknesses even though it has its advantages in several aspects including higher learning discipline. 

High discipline and serious efforts to gain knowledge, said the prime minister, are necessary for students in this country to be more competitive, for example, in terms of developing more useful studies that are of better quality.

“I don't think we can compete in the world of education against China, Taiwan, Finland, and other countries if students don't have high discipline,” he said.

Touching on the issue of language, Anwar said that although the use of Malay is prioritised in teaching and learning, higher learning institutions should also look at the importance of improving English proficiency among students from now.

Taking the example of Indonesia and Thailand, he said that although both countries are seen as serious in prioritising the use of their respective mother tongues, English proficiency among their youth at local universities is much better than in Malaysia.

“So let’s not scream about the question of language, or being phobic when we mention mastering of the Malay language, there are also some elite groups who are phobic when we mention this,” he said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister also invited thinkers, intellectuals, and academicians to help him overcome the country’s weaknesses, besides raising the desire of young people to learn.

“Essentially, for the country’s thinkers, the priority is to use the space to improve our weaknesses, our priority is to educate our children so that within five or six years they can confidently compete with developed countries in the world.

“It’s not easy but I am confident in the strength of the government, even though it is very broad, I have not faced a single major problem when it came to formulating important priorities whether economic, investment, digital, or energy,” he said.

The two-day Higher Education Ministry Strategy Discourse starting today aims to realign strategy, formulate its strategic direction, propose programmes or initiatives as well as discuss strategic issues related to the ministry and suggested solutions for this year.

The objective of this discourse is conducted in the form of several interactive presentations and forums by presenters and panel members and experts in their respective fields.

- Bernama