Harapan: Form a Higher Education Council led by professionals

 

The formation of a Higher Education Council, led by professionals, can curb the leadership weaknesses of the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE), says the Pakatan Harapan education committee.

“The education committee recommends that the minister immediately establish a Higher Education Council to handle the state of higher education based on the National Higher Education Council Act 1996 (Act 546).

"This matter was once brought up by the former education minister (Maszlee Malik) in the Harapan era, but could not be continued due to the change of government.

"The existence of this Council will further ensure that it provides space for the direction of higher education to be determined by professionals and minimise the political impact on the course and future of higher education in the country.

"It is also able to curb any leadership weaknesses from the executive,” said the committee in a statement today.

The statement was signed by committee head Maszlee, alongside six other MPs - Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR-Setiawangsa), Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai), Hasan Bahrom (Amanah-Tampin), Natrah Ismail (PKR-Sekijang), Steven Sim Chee Keong (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) and Rusnah Aluai (PKR-Tangga Batu).

The National Council on Higher Education Act 1996 (Act 546), mentioned above, aims to establish a National Council on Higher Education to support higher education through:

1. Planning, formulating, and determining policies and strategies for the development of higher education
2. Promoting and facilitating the growth of institutions of higher education
3. Taking actions as it deems fit to carry out its functions effectively

Harapan's statement follows a call by the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) for the MOHE to expedite new appointments for vice-chancellors in five public universities - which have not had university leadership since the beginning of the year.

The universities affected by this include Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Former education minister Maszlee Malik

Harapan observed that the sudden dismissal of UiTM and UniMAP vice-chancellors, in particular, invited much speculation that their early terminations were politically motivated.

“What is even more surprising is that there was no reason given for the terminations and the MOHE did not have a replacement plan before the terminations were made,” said Harapan.

The political coalition noted that it is common practice, in the event of an empty vice-chancellor position, at public universities, for the position to be held temporarily by an elected deputy vice-chancellor, undertaking the responsibilities of a vice-chancellor on top of their own portfolios.

“Other than the issue of the vice-chancellor appointments for the mentioned universities, and the case of the abandoned UPM, many deputy vice-chancellor positions in public universities also remained unappointed,” said Harapan. - Mkini