SIBU, Oct 1: More public colleges and universities needed to be set up in Malaysia including Sarawak to broaden access to higher education for bright students, given that an alleged 10,000 high scorers were rejected every year due to limited space.
Raising this issue, Sarawak United People’ Party (SUPP) Dudong Branch chairman Wong Ching Yong pointed out that Malaysia should emulate countries like New Zealand and Australia, which have lower population compared to Malaysia but sufficient higher education institutions to meet the education needs of prospective students.
“Take New Zealand for example, their population is only five million (compared to Malaysia’s 34 million), but there are eight universities and 16 polytechnics. Australia’s population is only 26 million, but there are 43 universities.
“Private colleges and universities have expensive tuition fees and many from disadvantaged backgrounds will not afford it. Their future will be bleak if they are denied access into public higher learning institutions.
“Malaysia should take the lead from other countries in its efforts to build the country as the centre of Asia Pacific education,” he told reporters at the sideline of SUPP Dudong Branch’s mobile service centre today.
Wong, who is one of the party’s potential candidates for Lanang seat in the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15), also criticised the admission process to Malaysian institutions of higher learning as very opaque and seems to be unfair.
“It is understood that as many as 5,024 excellent students failed to pass the entry requirement to public universities.
“But those who were rejected have the right for an explanation from the Ministry of Education (MOE) which should also reassure them and the interviewers must maintain a neutral and professional demeanour,” he added. — DayakDaily
