Malaysian Education

Regulate Medical Schools

Published on 2010-01-14 09:16:00

Regulate Medical SchoolsAs a medical practitioner, I am worried by the apparent lack of leadership and control of both the Higher Education Ministry and the Health Ministry with regard to the training of new doctors in the country. I am also alarmed by the announcement by the Perak menteri besar that the state is getting a new medical school involving an investment of RM800 million to take in 10,000 students. There seems to be no planning by those in authority in this frenzy to set up medical sc

Revamp the Medical Scholarship System

Published on 2009-11-23 18:22:00

Revamp the Medical Scholarship SystemBy: Dr. Helmy Haja MydinThe bickering among stakeholders regarding the disbursement of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships occurs as regularly as the eruptions of Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park. Arguments are often raised about who should receive the scholarships. The loudest are usually parents who decry the system for failing to provide their child with a scholarship that the child “obviously” deserves. Debates tend to be more heat

The Malaysian Way to Better English

Published on 2009-11-23 18:05:00

The Malaysian Way to Better EnglishKee Thuan ChyeI was recently invited by the Education Ministry to a discussion on "strengthening English" in schools, but from the way the proceedings went, it seemed like an exercise in futility.The fact that it was being held in tandem with another discussion to "memartabatkan" (uphold) Bahasa Malaysia speaks volumes. As we all know, the standard statement that comes with any official announcement on the need to raise our standard of English must invariably c

1Malaysia dilemma

Published on 2009-10-29 19:22:00

The ‘1Malaysia’ Dilemma by K.K. TanThe four main places for racial integration in Malaysia are: » where we study;» where we work;» where we live; and» where we entertain, play games and visit.Of the four, education is the most important as it shapes our values and outlook from a young, tender and impressionable age and through our formative years. But our diverse national education system, which allows the freedom of choice for parents, is stuck in a dilemma. Our national schools, which

New Grading System for SPM

Published on 2009-10-03 22:02:00

New Grading System for SPMMalaysian education system is based on the current political situation. We notice, every time there is a new minister, there will be new education policies coming on.As we read in the New Straits Times recently (October 3, 2009), a new system will be used to grade all papers in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination starting this year. This development is in line with the appointment of Tan Sri Muhyiddin as a Minister of Education.The Education Ministry announce

Sex Education in Malaysia

Published on 2009-08-30 19:39:00

A Little Story about Sex SurveyAbout half of all young Malaysians don't know how babies are born.A National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) survey had also found that two in five do not know where the foetus develops. Half of those surveyed did not know that the male and female reproductive organs are.The Malaysian population and family survey, which polled some 1,700 respondents between the ages of 13 and 24, revealed the dept of ignorance among the young in basic sexual and rep

Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Published on 2009-08-19 06:11:00

A New Chancellor Joins UKM's JourneyBy: Sharifah Hapsah Shahabudin, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaOn July 21 2009, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, was proclaimed the new chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, in the historic Dewan Tun Abdul Razak (DeCTAR), named after its first chancellor.In a ceremony steeped in UKM tradition, the higher education minister announced the appointment by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong under Section 8

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Published on 2009-07-14 02:13:00

A World Leader in New Tropical AgricultureUniversity Putra Malaysia (UPM), one of the fastest growing research universities in the region, has set its sights on spearheading and revolutionizing the nation’s agricultural sector in order to achieve international recognition and acclaim.In line with its new vision – ‘A World Leader In Tropical Agriculture’ – the university has mapped out several strategies to achieve this status by the year 2015.Among its strategies include efforts by UPM

Much To Be Learnt From University Rankings

Published on 2009-01-17 03:28:00

Much To Be Learnt From University RankingsBy: Sharifah Hapsah ShahabudinVice Chancellor, Universiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaSince it was first published in 2004, the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) Ranking of World Universities has never failed to rouse heated debate here. This year, eyebrows were raised when the university selected for the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (Apex) – Universiti Sains Malaysia – did not rise in the ranking while the other three research universities (RU

Education's Rocky Path to National Unity

Published on 2007-08-23 08:46:00

Education's Rocky Path to National UnityTo the sceptics, the Education Development Master Plan (PIPP) is just another plan but these are no ordinary times. The government is banking its hopes on the plan to boost the quality of the education system, and in particular, national schools, to make them the preferred choice for the nation.Schools are no longer the neutral grounds they were in the 60s, 70s and even 80s, where children of different backgrounds come together to study and play, share tit