The Minister of Higher Education, Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, on returning to his old portfolio made eleven resolutions on how he would manage his ministry. Read together with his explanation of each resolution, the resolutions cover a wide range of issues that touch not only the delivery of, and fairness and access to higher education but such diverse issues as bureaucratic commitment, to building strong leadership at all levels of the sector and depoliticizing the system of higher education.
Together, the eleven resolutions are a timely recognition of some of the major problems ailing our higher education system. If implemented honestly and in the discharge of the trust that is placed in the system by the students and the community, trust, which the Minister candidly points out in his preamble, the community no longer has in the system, the Minister’s tenure may well be remembered for restoring that lost faith.
One of the Minister’s resolutions to restore trust is making national cohesion an objective of higher education.
National cohesion is the subject of his first resolution. ‘We must develop this homeland into a civilized country. A country that takes advantage of the cultural cohesion of its people. A country whose people are simple-minded, smart, competitive, and egalitarian. A country where everyone lives in harmony and peace upholds principles, upholds knowledge and values, obeys religion, and is loaded with imagination and inspiration for goodness.’ He notes that these aspirations have always been the essence of national development and must be re-established as the continuing imperatives of the changing times.
Divided systems, as in higher education, and divisive policies wrought by destitute politicians who have no cause other than enriching themselves from the national wealth, have been the bane of this country. Winning supporters by making enemies of neighbours have become a dangerous political pastime that is hostile to national cohesion. If new policies on higher education flowing from the Minister’s many resolutions will bring an end to that ethos, that alone would be a major triumph for the Minister.
There is currently no cohesion in the divided higher education system. There are ten types of institutions created by seven different acts of parliament. The Minister must begin his quest by rationalizing the system through common principles. Otherwise, the higher education system will be a major cause of present and future divisions. The divisions will be a cause for suspicion and speculation in the community, especially among employers. Different institutions are bound to draw different matrixes for the selection of students, the choice of programs, and the way they are structured, leading to uncertainty among students and other stakeholders. Division adds costs to the administration of the system. Policies cannot be made unless they are divided to meet the different agendas of the divided system. Not only does this go against a cohesive system of education, but it forcibly divides a nation through divided graduates. If implemented with purpose, the Minister’s resolution on national cohesion will certainly begin a process that will lead to a more cohesive system of higher education.
Other resolutions of the Minister will be discussed in forthcoming articles.
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