Late September, it was widely reported by the local press that the Government received draft policy recommendations from an independent committee which was appointed in October 2004 headed by former Education director - General Tan Sri Wan Zahid Mohd Noordin.

Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced that the draft was prepared by a committee tasked with coming up with suggestions on how to provide the quantum leap to turn Malaysia into a regional centre of excellence in tertiary education. "We can expect more positive changes to achieve our ambition for the country," he added.

It has been known for quite some time that the Higher Education policy was undergoing a review. However, it wasn't clearly known what exactly was being reviewed and how determined the authorities are in making positive changes to the local higher education policy and institutions.

What kind of policy?

Malaysia has aspirations about making Malaysia an international hub for education with the capability to attract foreign students to pursue tertiary studies and it has done rightly that, with a great number of foreign students making up the faculty in various public and private institutions. It is uncertain as to whether we can credit this achievement to quality or good marketing strategies.

With last year's university disputes affecting Dr. Terence Edmund Gomez, Professor K. Ramasamy and Dr. Azly Rahman and the scandals of the recent university student elections, what more with the "evil" of the Universities and University Colleges Act (1971), there is more to address and the policy review is indeed at a stage where it is crucially needed.

What needs to be looked into?

1. Universities & University Colleges Act 1971

A suppressive legal tool aimed at the rampant student activism of the 1970s, the UUCA has been used to curb creative and critical thinking, and has restricted the space for students to attain wider social concern. And because the UUCA affects only students in Malaysian universities and institutions of higher learning, they suffer more limitations on their freedom and liberty than most other Malaysians. This in turn, is a blatant violation of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), namely 2 declarations:

I. Freedom of opinion and information (Declaration 19)
II. Right to education (Declaration 26)

One hallmark of the UUCA is the prohibition of students in engaging in off-campus political activities. However, when Puteri UMNO was launched, the then chief boasted that they have a membership of 151,000 ranging from women aged 18 to 35 years old. It is well known that 18 25 are considered "varsity years" which means that the same Government who brought this law into power is the same Government who breaks this law.

2. Racial Policies The Barrier

It has been a long standing case that staff promotions, and selection of academic heads in universities have been unfair and are based on racial rather than merit factors.

"It was obvious you wouldn't get very far if you weren't the right race," says Dr. Lee Eng Hin, presently serving at the National University of Singapore, where he is in charge of a huge lab that is conducting cutting-edge research in stem-cell biology. Dr. Lee, an orthopedic surgeon, leads a team of top scientists culled from all over the world.

"Having come here I think I made the right choice," says Dr. Lee, referring to Singapore's premier teaching hospital. In Malaysia, "I probably would not have become a head of department and dean of the Faculty of Medicine."

It is painful to know that all the best brains who have Malaysian citizenships have left for other places overseas. The Government should realise that they are the people that we need in the education fraternity. After all, we need educationists, not politicians or political wannabes.

3. Change Methodology of Varsity Education

Our newspapers are always bombarded by reports of unemployable and unemployed graduates, despite the fact that they have graduated with paper qualifications, and do not possess communication skills and the etiquette which convinces an employer.

We can only attribute one factor to this decline: the syllabus and methodology of education in public universities, and a good number of private universities and colleges.

As we know, the syllabi used in public universities are outdated. Private colleges and subsequently, universities overseas update, review or change their syllabuses every three to five years. For industrial-based courses, universities team up with the private sector more to not only give industrial training, but also insight and input in the formulation of courses.

A strong emphasis in English must be there to ensure that they can cope using English reference materials should they maintain the Bahasa Melayulanguage policy.

Universities must also stop the habit of spoon-feeding their students and let them think for themselves. We have to produce graduates who are independent and resourceful, and the increase of unemployed graduates shows the reverse. Since university education is meant to enlighten, and give new exposure to undergraduates, there is no other way to a learning experience in university and it's got to be done the old-fashioned way.

The Human Resources Minister must now think if investing millions in these unemployed graduates is necessary as the problem is rectifiable.

4. LAN and Accreditation

The nation's accreditation board must now deal with a new role ensuring quality in courses in private colleges. While there are some colleges who have teamed up with reputable universities to conduct degree courses, and while some have enlisted the help and consultation of these reputable universities to start their own degree courses, we also need to check on colleges who are conducting courses below par.

We do not need colleges which are holding courses below par in this country. LAN should do more than just ensure that standard minimum requirements for accreditation are met, to ensure well grounded graduates who can meet the demands of his preferred skill and industry. This is also to ensure that parents don't spend hard-earned money only to see their children rot at home. If necessary, strike off colleges which produce "under-performing" graduates.

What Do I Think?

I study in a private institution and none of these issues shake me at all. The UUCA does not affect private students on a whole, provided they do not get involved in criminal activities. The UUCA doesn't really matter to them as well as the level of activism, and political awareness is rather low. However, the education given to them with regards to the field they choose to pursue makes up for that void, allowing for their creative, analytical, and critical thinking to be utilised in their desired field, according to the approach and course structure. Despite that, the liberty to think and voice out is guaranteed to be there. Unless of course, a reader may disagree with my opinion, and that the freedom I enjoy as a student is a privilege only students at my college enjoy.

As a private student, I am also glad to see unbiased and free interaction amongst all races. In fact, I dare say that a "real Malaysia", with a diverse mix of all races, can be found in my university college. There is no racial policy which creates barriers and meritocracy is practiced.

I have not studied every course my college has to offer, but from what I know, it is nothing but tough, especially my course. And if that's not enough, to further facilitate the marketability of the graduates, they have extended the duration of foundation courses to include subjects like "Fundamentals of Malaysian Law", "Psychology for Personal Excellence", "Critical Thinking Skills", and "Life & Leadership Skills". All these to ensure that we turn out to be productive citizens!

Perhaps local universities should take a look at private colleges. After all, don't both of them exist for the same purpose to educate?

COLLIN NUNIS is a student at a private college.