A task force for higher education needed

THOMSON CH’NG Co-Convenor of the ASEANAustralia Education Dialogue Former President of the Council of International Students Australia (CISA)

COVID-19 continues to disrupt the world and there is much uncertainty within the higher education sector as to what this means for Malaysia’s higher education and skills training future.

A wide range of stakeholders, including students and parents, are anxiously seeking answers on this front.

Along with health devastation, the impact of Covid-19 forced institutions and classes to close, leaving students stranded and lecturers without employment.

The risk of more closures of institutions is obvious.

It wasn’t that long ago when academic groups and sectoral stakeholders welcomed the decision by the Prime Minister to reintroduce the Higher Education Ministry.

This will ensure more attention is given to the overall development of the policy framework and higher education as a standalone sector.

No doubt, this is a challenging moment for everyone.

At times like this, the ministry must ensure that more work and support are being given to our educational institutions and students.

In response to this crisis and its impact on the higher education sector, the Higher Education Minister’s role as a crisis manager is needed now more than ever.

As such, I would like to recommend the setting up of a special task force consisting of experts from government, higher education institutions (both public and private), think-tanks and student groups to plan, implement and coordinate actions in addressing the concerns and foreseeable risks posed to the higher education sector.

The immediate priorities and roles of the task force should include:

> setting up a centralised information centre to ensure coordinated and accurate information is being communicated to education institutions and students throughout the pandemic.

> setting up a national emergency fund to support the universities, education institutions and students if the situation requires.

> proposing salary cut for senior executives in the ministry, vice-chancellors and universities to contribute to the welfare support for staff and students.

> coordinating relevant federal and state government agencies to ensure proper mobilisation of resources and effective execution to support the students at a local level.

> addressing the challenges of shifting to online learning due to issues such as accessibility to the Internet and the feasibility of online teaching for courses that require practical or face-to-face learning environments.

As a host to more than 150,000 international students studying in our campuses, it is also important for the ministry to ensure that they are well supported.

This can be done through involving and mobilising the Foreign Embassies, the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and the Home Affairs Ministry on matters related to visa and off-campus accommodation.

Otherwise, it may pose a reputational risk to Malaysia as a welcoming country for international students.

The ministry must immediately step up its effort in ensuring all measures are being taken to support this important sector of the country.

Public confidence must be restored and uplifted in this time of uncertainty.