From Dr Anita C Pelly
I was happy to read on Tuesday that the public services department (JPA) had finally put its foot down and that henceforth sponsorships for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy will be only to local public universities and selected private universities.
The “flip-flops” in this matter have been rather embarrassing.
In March, JPA announced that it had decided to stop sponsoring students in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy citing a future oversupply of medical officers.
Two weeks ago, however, health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the ministry was still in talks with JPA over its decision.
On the very same day, the prime minister waded in on the issue, saying government scholarships will continue.
Tuesday’s announcement, therefore, made sense – until I read the fine print, which said that 310 students will be allowed to take up courses in the UK, the US and Australia.
JPA scholarships are a very emotional topic. Each year parents and students pursue them vigorously, leaving no stone unturned.
This year, the issue has once again reared its ugly head. The multiple “flip-flops” show this government buckles under pressure far too easily.
I have no doubt that spending money to educate our brightest young minds is worthwhile. Certainly, it is much better than pouring billions into shipyards where ships remain half-built, if at all, never to ply the salty seas.
Yet, there is a much bigger question that begs understanding: Is it worthwhile for the government to spend millions on educating a select few aspiring doctors and dentists who are pursuing a first or basic degree overseas?
Is the government saying that the multiple public and private institutions in Malaysia providing the same qualifications to the rest of our youth are not up to standard?
We are trying to become an international education hub, and yet send our best and brightest abroad. What message does that send out?
Would it not be better to pour this kind of money into our local institutions to increase their capabilities and provide better services to all our undergraduates?
Pay better salaries and keep our best teachers and instructors locally with better remuneration so they, too, will have no need to flee our shores looking for greener pastures.
Practice meritocracy when selecting aspiring students and their teachers.
Help the B40 families. Sponsor their children so they will be able to flee the poverty trap that often besieges bright and talented, but poor, children.
Provide financial aid, not just to the students, but also to their families who would otherwise have to rely on them to make ends meet as soon as they finish their schooling years. Let no child be left behind due to poverty.
Surely that would be more beneficial when it comes to increasing and improving the talent pool entering local universities.
Not only will this increase the quality of students studying domestically, the competition it generates will also improve the overall performance of all the students, and inevitably improve the standard of our graduates.
I am all for JPA sponsoring students at overseas institutions, but not for their first or basic degree which may take five to six years to complete, and at huge costs.
Rather, sponsor deserving master’s students who are more mature and will be better prepared. They will also be more likely to return to serve the country upon completion of their studies.
Furthermore, a master’s degree course lasts only between one and two years, and would, therefore, be less expensive.
Master’s degree holders from foreign universities of repute will surely serve the country better.
Their contracts should have stipulations that require them to return and serve out their bonds and ban them from working abroad. Failing which they must, without exception, be made to repay the cost of their studies.
As a deterrent, immediate family members of defaulters must also be denied access to government scholarships.
I am sure JPA has noticed that not all their scholars finish their degrees as scheduled. A sizeable number do not return to serve out their bonds. This is a huge disservice to local taxpayers and parents of other deserving students who were never given the opportunity.
Our corporate bodies, too, should change their focus and sponsor students to complete their studies in our public and private universities.
The money spent to sponsor one medical student abroad can educate at least 10 in local private institutions and 30 in public universities.
Factoring in ever-rising tuition fees and living costs abroad, as well as foreign currency fluctuations, how can we not see the immense savings our country can make by changing our focus?
Stop wasting our natural resources and capitalise on the human capital we already have to make Malaysia great again. Stop the brain drain and build up our local talent bank instead.
Time and again Malaysian students top qualification examinations abroad and our graduates go on win international recognition in diverse fields of work. This goes to show that our students have the mettle to succeed anywhere.
Keeping them here will make their peers and colleagues, and the institutions they learn at, better. As a nation we will surely reap gargantuan rewards. - FMT
Dr Anita C Pelly is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT
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