Free education for all
WHEN I was reading the newspapers recently, both my daughter and nephew joined me. We had an interesting chat on the recently launched 11th Malaysia Plan. I told them about how the nation has developed into what it is today starting from the first Malaysia Plan. My daughter was curious and wanted to know more while my nephew was working on an assignment on the New Economic Policy.
The theme of the 11th Malaysia Plan is “Anchoring Growth on People” and this will take our country into developed nation status in 2020. A wonderful journey into becoming a high-income nation. The plan has six thrusts namely enhancing inclusiveness, improving the people’s wellbeing, developing human capital, adopting environmentally sustainable growth, improving public infrastructure and ensuring that economic growth leads to greater prosperity for all.
As my daughter and nephew are students, I was highlighting that the government’s strategies include reducing school dropouts, increasing accessibility to higher education and skills training, increasing productivity through adoption of modern technology and enhancing adoption of information and communications technology.
While I was explaining, my daughter said, “Acha” (meaning father), what about providing free education for all Malaysians until university level.
She supported her suggestion by giving examples of some Scandinavian countries which provide free education. She said her classmates who could not afford university education would be studying at these institutions if it was free. She also said that children who managed to receive university education would have better lifestyles and jobs.
I was quite shocked with her question and started thinking about the benefit to the country should there be free university education for every Malaysian.
It would certainly raise the human capital development of our nation. Imagine every child who does well in school would find a place in our universities. They would become the future manpower. Every parent dreams of placing their children in a university. Many use the Employees Provident Fund, National Higher Education Fund Corporation and bank loans to enable their children to study at universities.
Human capital is the best way to build a strong and resilient nation. This will not only bring our economic standing higher, it will automatically elevate our socio-economic and overall wellbeing status in Malaysia.
I must thank my daughter for bringing up this question. Free education until university will truly guarantee an “anchoring growth on people” providing better opportunities for every Malaysian.