Issue must be solved without any further delay

There are many students whom achieved outstanding results were not given an opportunity to further their studies in their preferred course in local universities. In my opinion, Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia must give serious consideration of this repeating issue as it will directly affecting the peoples’ views of the government transformation program.

This issue must be solved without any further delay so as to enable these students can obtain the education locally in their preferred courses. Otherwise, these top students with great academic results will plan to further their studies abroad. Hence, many of them will be starting their career and life abroad after graduating rather than coming back to Malaysia.

I believe the Ministry of Higher Education is definitely aware of this issue and trying to solve this issue amicably. In any case, Ministry of Higher Education can be more transparent in solving this issue so that the public, especially the parents and the students themselves will understand rather than forming a different opinion towards this issue, blaming the Government not doing anything for their children.

The recent launched National Higher Education Strategic Plan 2020 is where to conceptualize the entire operational plan for higher education with the notion of National Interest as well as to promise great autonomy for the universities and the students.

Government should pay more attention in particular to those non-bumiputra students whom they facing difficulties to be enrolled into the local universities. These non-bumiputra students are among the top students in the country. They should be given opportunity to further their studies in the preferred discipline in the local universities.

According to statistic, 38,549 students out of the total of 52,430 are successfully qualified to be enrolled to the 20 local universities.  However, some of these students did not enroll to the local universities as the course provided is not their choice course.

I suggest that the Ministry of Higher Education to make continuous efforts to ensure that the Public Institutions of Higher Education (PIHE) will have to make effort to ensure that the students are to be given their choice course especially high achievers students so that they can have the opportunity to study in Malaysia and start their career in Malaysia after graduating.

Be accountability and transparent in university placement for the students are the key to prevent brain drain. Thus, act prudently to retain talent.