Letter to Editor
MALAYSIA has seen the better of public university graduates. What really happened that has caused the erosion?
Way back in the 1970s, our graduates’ qualification – if not all – at least the medical and engineering qualifications were recognised world-wide. Like it or not, the erosion has come about due to the introduction of the matriculation studies.
Though the intention of getting more graduates is noble, this should not come with a compromise in the quality of graduates.
Prior to the 1980’s, the intakes were predominantly from Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM). At that time, it was not easy to get a place to pursue STPM in a government school.
One has to have score Gred 1 in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Thus, those who passed the STPM and qualified to get into the public universities were of high calibre. Today this has not changed drastically. For one to get through the STPM is not easy and more so to get a good CGPA (cumulative grade point average).
The problem has come about due to the CGPA from STPM as equivalent to that of matriculation. The fact remains that pioneer universities like Universiti Malaya still insist on a minimum CGPA of 3.5.
If that is the case, why is it that that the quality of graduates has dropped? This is factually due to the intake of those from matriculation. From Year One, the standard of teaching has to be lowered to facilitate those from matriculation to cope with. Should the standard prior to the intake from matriculation be maintained, more than 50% of the students would fail.
I am absolutely sure that all the academics in the respective universities would agree. It is for this reason that the then Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, Datuk Anwar Zaini, suggested that the intake to all the five R&D universities – Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) – be confined to intake from STPM holders.
He said that there were the remaining 16 universities to absorb the matriculation holders. That indeed is a solution to raise the standard of the five public universities to the world rank.
If that suggestion has been exercised, by now, we would have seen our public university qualification returned to the standard it was prior to the 1980s.
Unfortunately, there was a hue and cry from the masses the very next day. With that, the idea was dropped and we remain where we were.
The masses ought to be more justified. Would we want to jeopardise the quality of education in the public universities for our personal satisfaction? We must realise that in all countries, not all the universities are of the same standard, including developed nations.
Until and unless we realise this, the standard in public universities are either going to remain as it is or deteriorate further. I am sure that the Higher Education Ministry is fully aware of this.
Probably they are worried of the support of the people. We must realise that for the good of the nation, we ought to be firm in any decision. – June 29, 2022
Private University Lecturer
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
