PUTRAJAYA: Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir today said the orientation week for first-semester students at universities should be maintained.
He, however, emphasised that the programmes conducted must be meaningful and relevant in preparing students for tertiary education.
"Universities, be it local and overseas continue to host the orientation week to help introduce new students to the new environment they will be entering.
"Orientation week should serve as an adjustment programme for new students who may spend several years—some four years, others three—in university or college.
"While there may be issues in certain universities, we should not make a sweeping generalisation that orientation week is no longer suitable," he told reporters after the 2024 'Anugerah Tokoh Akademik Bahasa Melayu (ATABM) ceremony today.
Zambry was responding to a question on a recent viral video of an orientation week at a public university.
In the video, several facilitators appeared to be arguing in front of the new students attending the orientation week.
A facilitator was also seen scolding the new students for making noise and taking a video of the incident.
The argument later turned into a birthday surprise for a fellow facilitator.
The incident has since received criticism from the public.
Many graduates also took to social media to share their negative experiences from orientation weeks in the past.
Instead of informative tours of the campus, faculties and residences for new students, they recounted being subjected to early wake-up calls and late nights, with the week filled with excessive talks, singing, dancing, and other unnecessary activities.
Zambry said the university's management had been informed over the video for them to address the issue.
"This matter should be taken into account and corrected to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future."