Student-led Heya pushes for education reforms

 

The Higher Education Malaysia Association is of the view that the country needs more independent, inclusive and professionally run higher education institutions that will ensure a non-partisan academic ecosystem for students.

PETALING JAYA: A student-led movement that has been pushing for education reforms is hoping to integrate them with post-Covid-19 reconciliation policies to ensure education sustainability and equality as the year draws to an end.

It has been an eventful year for the Higher Education Malaysia Association (Heya) which was at the forefront of efforts to reform education in the country and they are unlikely to slow down.

Despite the limitations of the pandemic, Heya organised several notable events to amplify the voices of students. These include the National Students’ Advocacy Workshop (NaSA) and the National Students’ Leadership Conference (NaSLeC).

These events stemmed from what was happening on the ground as students spoke out against the reopening of schools during the pandemic and a teacher’s inappropriate rape joke in class that grabbed headlines.

In the wake of these developments, Heya organised NaSA, a virtual workshop, to strengthen student activism and amplify the voices of students to bring the change they want to see.

This virtual workshop managed to build support among student leaders for the establishment of independent student unions and reforms on freedom of speech and association.

NaSLeC on the other hand focused on university students, offering participants a chance to engage with others on issues affecting their peer group and potentially forge lasting legislative changes.

Lively discussions around higher education reforms, the post-pandemic future of university students and the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku 1971) were the highlight of NaSLeC.

Auku 1971 was the focal point of the conference as the Act has been criticised in the past for clamping down on academic independence as on-campus decisions were subject to political considerations which limit the freedom of expression and in research.

The conference provided students with the platform to speak openly about their concerns and aspirations for the education sector without reproach, and to allow for frank discussions about the policies that affect all stakeholders in higher education, including administrators and educators.

The driving force behind Heya’s push for reforms is its belief that the country needs more independent, inclusive and professionally run higher education institutions that will ensure a non-partisan academic ecosystem for students.

Heya has also drawn up its own Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku) Reform Blueprint following extensive consultations with various universities, youth groups and even the youth and sports ministry.

Among Heya’s proposals is diversifying the source of appointments in the top management of varsities so as to limit the power of the higher education minister to interfere in the institutions’ governance and operations.

“Moving forward, Heya will also integrate higher education reforms with post-Covid-19 reconciliation policies as this will help tackle issues such as inequality in education, mental health and unemployment.

“This is to ensure a robust education reform which produces more well-rounded students in all aspects of their lives,” Heya president Ooi Tze Howe said. - FMT