iCGPA not required in public universities from today
PUTRAJAYA: The Integrated Cumulative Grade Point Average Assessment (iCGPA) will no longer be compulsory in public universities (UA), effective Wednesday, said Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.
Instead, the universities will have the choice of either continuing the iCGPA system or scrapping it, Maszlee said in a press conference at his ministry yesterday.
He said the decision was made after several review sessions by academics and students from the institutions which practised it together as well as representatives from the related industries and professional bodies.
He added that based on the feedback obtained since the system was implemented, it was found that lecturers had to pay more attention to it rather than on their core duties of teaching, research, writing, supervising students and providing service to the community.
“iCGPA has resulted in lecturers being occupied with documentation and monitoring students’ activities,” he said.
Maszlee said universities which wanted to continue the iCGPA system could do so after obtaining a consensus from their academic staff through discussions and consultations.
“I hope this decision will give more leeway to lecturers to return their focus on their core roles and duties and improve the status of public universities as notable intellectual bodies,” he said.
Asked if the services of vice-chancellors or deputy vice-chancellors in public universities who were not supportive of the government would be terminated, Maszlee said he had held closed-door meetings with the heads of these institutions.
“Those who are known to oppose the new government have been asked to relinquish their positions, those whose terms have ended will not be continued and those who are still serving have been given an option, the Education Ministry has offered them to resign in an honourable manner,” he said.
Maszlee also gave his assurance that only those who are qualified would be appointed to helm public universities and not political appointees.
“I will not appoint anyone from my own party to the post of vice-chancellor or deputy vice-chancellor. That is my assurance,” he said.