Male students prefer skills-based learning method, say experts

KUALA LUMPUR: Male students prefer skills-based education with practical lessons, while female students are more receptive to cognitive learning, as practised in the education system in the country, said experts.

They said this was the reason there were fewer male students entering universities, compared with female students.

It was reported that the number of male applicants to public universities had declined over the past two years. In the last two academic years (2013/2014 and 2014/2015), the number of female applicants had doubled, compared with male applicants.

Psychologist and criminologist Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat, of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said after male students passed their minimum formal education, many opted for an early career to earn money, but most failed to realise that receiving a higher level of education led to better jobs and higher salaries.

“This trend has been ongoing for the past four years, especially in courses like languages, forensic sciences, psychology, engineering and law.

“Men are better short-term planners, while women are better long-term planners. Men have an eye on present gains and let the future take care of itself, while women have an eye on future gains and plan accordingly.”

USM Social Science Studies Faculty lecturer Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussain said women were more determined to pursue tertiary-level education because of available opportunities and improvements in the education system.

“There are more female students pursing professional courses, like medicine and education, while male students like skills-based or technical schools. When I enrolled my son in Universiti Putra Malaysia recently, there were only four male students out of 46 medical students.

“The government plays a vital role in placing emphasis on the importance of education. Hence, we are seeing a boost in the nation’s literacy level and number of students enrolling in schools.”

Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said studies had shown that female students were better at absorbing lessons through the cognitive method of learning.

“The level of concentration for male students is lower. They are better at adapting to practical lessons.

“You need to have good grades to enter university. Perhaps, this is one reason why there is a decline in the number of male applicants to universities. But, there are more male students applying to technical and skills-based colleges, where learning is hands-on.

“In the long run, we need more skilled workers in the job market because the ratio in the work environment is 1:3, or one ‘planner’ to three ‘doers’. Thirty per cent of graduates are unable to find jobs, so this can create problems.”