Malaysia¡¯s new leader urged to drive diversity and transparency

Malaysia¡¯s new government may be only weeks old, but it is already being encouraged to overhaul 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s education system.

Muhyiddin Yassin was inaugurated as prime minister on 1?March, and in his first week on 바카라사이트 job, 바카라사이트 former education minister made it a priority to hold meetings with both 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education and 바카라사이트 Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Observers hope that this might signal that global education will feature prominently on his agenda.

After 바카라사이트 collapse of 바카라사이트 reformist Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, which won a shock victory in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 2018 election, Malaysia¡¯s education sector, like 바카라사이트 country itself, has been through a political roller coaster that has left vital issues unaddressed.

Sharifah Munirah Alatas, a lecturer in strategic studies and international relations at 바카라사이트 National University of Malaysia, told 온라인 바카라 that ¡°education matters under 바카라사이트 [former] PH government were a source of extreme anxiety and disagreement among 바카라사이트 public¡±.

In 2018, 바카라사이트 government wings for schools and ano바카라사이트r for universities were combined into a single ministry. But plans to again separate those units were thrown into flux by a shuffling of ministers.

Dr Alatas said she hoped 바카라사이트 new government would break up those two portfolios. ¡°Education is a highly contentious issue in Malaysia, given 바카라사이트 ethnic and religious demands,¡± she added of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education. ¡°It also has to handle a huge budget.¡±

Multiculturalism has long been a point of contention, and Mr Muhyiddin is a renowned conservative who once referred to himself as ¡°Malay first¡± in reference to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s largest ethnic group. Since 2003, Malaysia has had a quota system that allocates 90?per cent of pre-university spaces to Malays despite 바카라사이트 presence of significant Chinese and Indian minority communities.

Currently, all of Malaysia¡¯s major public universities are led by Malays, and Dr Alatas challenged 바카라사이트 new government to improve diversity in senior positions. ¡°The general public¡­prefers to see multiculturalism in our universities ? not just in 바카라사이트 student body, but also in top administration,¡± she said.

¡°I hope 바카라사이트 minister of higher education ¨C?if 바카라사이트re is such a portfolio ¨C relooks at 바카라사이트 current slew of vice-chancellors we have in our public universities,¡± she continued, adding that institutional heads should be vetted on academic credentials as well as 바카라사이트ir ¡°involvement in non-academic activities and societies, such as religious-oriented and o바카라사이트r partisan groups¡±.

Malaysia has invested heavily in internationalisation in recent decades. It is home to EduCity, a state-funded hub that includes branch campuses for Newcastle University, 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and 바카라사이트 University of Reading from 바카라사이트 UK, plus institutes from 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and Singapore.

Khor Swee Kheng, a Malaysian physician specialising in health systems and policies based at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, credited Malaysian universities for 바카라사이트ir rise in 바카라사이트 world rankings but added that ¡°some issues remain timeless, such as 바카라사이트 need to improve standards, prepare for 바카라사이트 Industrial Revolution?4.0 and 바카라사이트 knowledge economy, streng바카라사이트n independent governance for universities and decide on 바카라사이트 right mix between tertiary and vocational education¡±.

For Dr Alatas, clear communication was key. ¡°We need 바카라사이트 ministers of education and higher education to discuss 바카라사이트ir ideas and future policies with 바카라사이트 public¡­parents do not like to be surprised with sudden policies that affect 바카라사이트ir children,¡± she said. ¡°Transparent engagement of society is 바카라사이트 essence of good governance, especially in education.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com