LETTERS: Due to the complexity of our educational system and to reduce the burden on our Ministry of Education (MOE), the government should consider bringing back the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
MOHE was first established in 2004. It was responsible for higher education, polytechnic and community colleges, student loans, accreditation, student volunteers and other matters involving higher education.
After the 14th General Election in 2018, the new government decided to combine MOHE under MOE.
Unlike other countries, our country’s educational system is rather complex as it consists of many types of educational institutions.
Our education system is divided into preschool education, primary education, secondary education, post-secondary education and tertiary education. It is further divided into public and private education.
There are hundreds of schools in the country. There are also dozens of colleges and universities, not to mention technical and vocational institutions.
It will be very difficult for a single ministry under a single minister to give his or her full focus to deal with all issues and problems being faced by all the educational institutions.
These issues and problems also vary from one institution to another. The issues and problems faced by school teachers and pupils are different from those faced by lecturers and students at university level.
Ever since Pakatan Harapan took over, many plans were developed by the new government to improve the existing educational system at all levels.
To be frank, it will be very tough for the current ministry and its minister to give their full focus to all the issues and problems involving educational matters.
This will affect the government’s noble aim to carry out major reforms in our education system and all the educational institutions.
As such, it will be much better for the government to consider bringing back MOHE as a single entity along with a minister in charge of the ministry.
Bringing back MOHE will reduce the focus and burden faced by the existing MOE as matters involving higher education issues will be placed under a separate ministry, headed and supervised by another minister.
This would allow the existing ministry (namely MOE) to give its full focus on other remaining educational institutions and allow the government to reform our educational system and institutions for the sake of the country and our future generation.
DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Negri Sembilan
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times.