KUALA LUMPUR: The reduced allocation for the Ministry of Higher Education will not see an increase of fees for undergraduate programmes at public institutes of higher learning.
Its minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said that even though the ministry experienced a 15 per cent cut in allocation in the 2016 Budget, fees will not be raised.
"We will not allow any increase in fees for undergraduate programmes at our universities," he told reporters after chairing the inaugural meeting of the International Education Task Force (IETF) here today.
He further added that the budget given to the ministry, although less than that was received last year, was in line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint (2015-2025) (Higher Education).
"The reduced cut will lead universities to unlock and utilise their assets in finding their own resources," he said.
IETF was established in an effort to strengthen the nation's internationalisation agenda and comprises of members from relevant ministries, institutes of higher learning and other stakeholders.
Chaired by Idris, IETF will play the role of adviser to the minister in matters of international education.
"The task force ensures that the international expertise and experience among its members is able to improve recognition of Malaysia's higher education.
"It also aims to discuss initiatives to place Malaysia as a prominent educational hub, in line with the vision outlined in our blueprint," he said.
Among the members of IETF were secretary-generals of the Home, Foreign Affairs, and Tourism Ministries, the police, institutes of higher learning representative and associations from private institutes of higher learning.
The associations include the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Private Educational Institutions, Pemandu, and representatives of private institutes of higher learning.