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The Malaysia Government must take effective steps to ensure that all public and private institutes of higher learning, IHLs, including medical schools attain international standard. Part of the speech by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong during the debate on the 2001 Supply Bill (Budget), Education Ministry allocations of RM 18.6 billion, on 23 November 2000. | |||||||
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In the globalisation of the 21st Century, we need many trained people. That is why I propose that we have at least 35 universities of international standard. Now, we have nine public universities with four new ones mentioned in the budget. There is a basis for more universities. In fact the allocations of RM 18.6 billion for education are the largest in the budget. If we can use them effectively, the people will benefit. We have about 300 private institutes of higher learning, IHLs. The Education Minister Tan Sri Musa Mohamad believes that they should merge to meet the challenges. While we are waiting for the Ministry to study private IHLs within and outside the country, we hope that the Ministry monitors all public and private colleges and universities closely. Although the Government talks about supervising private IHLs through the National Accreditation Board, it has yet to raise its surveillance on public IHLs. It still allows abuses of privileges and quotas, making a mockery of the objectives of the 1996 Education Act. The Act stipulates that Malaysian education should be world-class. We are worried about the standard in all institutes. Indeed, we see colleges and universities taking in more students especially public universities. But, their lecturers and equipment do not increase accordingly. We increase student enrolment to meet current demand. This does not mean that the standard in these institutions will not go down. For example, public and private medical schools are taking in more students. Meanwhile, government hospitals are short of doctors by perhaps 500. We employ at least 300 foreign doctors. Other countries such as United Kingdom and | |
U.S.A. have been experiencing shortage of specialists in certain specialties such as anaesthetists and psychiatrists as well as junior doctors. Malaysia faces the same difficulties. The Education Ministry must improve its methods of supervision of all IHLs by having more experts and better methods of surveillance. If we do not do so, we expect many graduates including doctors who have low standard. Special review of the teaching of English As Malaysians, we should master Bahasa Malaysia. Then, we must learn English. It is important for Chinese and Tamil schools to maintain their characters. There must be opportunities to learn other languages. We are concerned about the standard of English in the country. This has to do with the Government's policy on English. Since the 80s last century, the Government has certain programmes to improve the teaching of English. They are scarcely enough. In 1970, the Government started to wipe out the teaching of English. By 1982, it succeeded. When we pointed out that the policy was short-sighted, we were branded as followers of British colonialists. When the Government relented, it was late. As English is the language of k-economy, we have to find ways to improve the standard. The Education Ministry says that it formulates strategies to deal with the language. People in rural areas and certain section of urban areas are not exposed to English. What should we do? As the Ministry battles with the decline in the standard of English, we propose that a special review of the teaching and learning of English among over four million students in our primary and secondary schools. We need concrete guidelines. Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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