Higher education minister says polytechnics and community colleges must no longer be seen as second-tier, as new blueprint charts 10-year course.
PUTRAJAYA: A new approach is needed to ensure polytechnics and community colleges develop alongside universities and are no longer seen as second-tier institutions, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed the need to rethink education at these levels, as discussions have long focused solely on universities.
“The time has come for us to also give attention to how we want polytechnics and community colleges to develop alongside our higher education system,” he said during his New Year’s address to ministry staff.
His ministry will place greater emphasis on developing polytechnics and community colleges to strengthen the nation’s higher education sector.
Public university governance must also be strengthened to be more agile and aligned with government policies, particularly those from the Finance Ministry.
Zambry expressed hope that existing circulars would be reviewed, stressing that directives to universities must be implemented.
“If we say that universities have the right to choose which circulars to apply, that is not the case. We must comply with what is directed,” he said.
He also highlighted the newly introduced Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) 2026-2035.
He said it is the main strategic document to drive the country’s higher education direction for the next decade.
For the first time, it was jointly developed by local experts involving over 8,000 stakeholders from various sectors.
“This approach differs from previous practices that relied on external consultants with high costs,” he said.
The RPTM will serve as a ‘living document’, meaning it is flexible and can be adapted to current changes.
The government also launched the overarching National Education Blueprint (RPN) 2026-2035 today.
This national strategic plan encompasses the entire education ecosystem, from schools to higher education.
The RPN is jointly led by the Ministry of Higher Education through the RPTM, and the Ministry of Education through the Malaysian Education Plan (RPM) 2026-2035.
The integrated implementation of both plans under the RPN reflects a comprehensive alignment of national education policies.
This ensures continuity of human capital development from school level to higher education.
