Maszlee: Public universities free to organise debates, forums

The education minister says this directive will come in effect immediately.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik says public universities are now free to organise academic programmes. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Public universities nationwide are now free to organise academic programmes such as debates, forums and intellectual discourse as is practised by leading universities around the world, says Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

He said the directive would come into effect immediately, and that all administrators of higher learning institutions were required to adhere to the instruction.

“I urge vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors of student affairs to comply with this directive and ensure there will be no restriction on such programmes after this.

“Such a matter needs to be synchronised with all universities, and the ministry will monitor compliance,” he told reporters at the education ministry iftar ceremony here today.

Maszlee, who said he had been barred from participating in such programmes before, added that the ministry’s decision was to inspire students who wished to see universities free from restrictions, especially in the sharing of knowledge.

He said the ministry would also instruct universities not to place a barrier gate at the main entrances.

Maszlee also said the ministry would authorise principals, headmasters and teachers to solve the issue of heavy schoolbags.

“Granting such powers to teachers to resolve the issue can be regarded as a gift to parents and students although the ministry has set up a committee to address that,” he said.

He added that tahfiz students would be exposed to entrepreneurial knowledge so that they too could contribute to the nation. - FMT