Why are political parties getting into the business of education?
Why not, they say, when 'other' components of the ruling party have already set up their own shops.
My gut feeling tells me that while there will be just as much horse trading in the 'other' shops, I can't help pondering over this particular case.
Could this line of thought be an extension of the dreadful job these people are doing with the 'national' schools?
I recall some time ago, some big politikus suggested the establishment of Proton University.
In either case, who will be the lecturers, the tutors, and the administrative staff?
Who will be the deans of the departments?
It will be interesting indeed to see what type of 'products' these people come up with...
And, equally important, where are they going to get money to run these shops, to pay the staff, and to build and maintain the infrastructures?
From the ruling party 'funds' or will they suck the blood of the captive citizens at large?
Excerpts...
Umno Mulls Own University
TANAH MERAH, May 20 (Bernama) -- A memorandum on the setting up of an Umno university will be tabled at the party's education bureau meeting
soon, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh Friday.
The meeting would discuss whether the setting up of the university was necessary because Malaysia already had 17 universities, he said.
Dr Shafie, who seemed to support the idea of Umno having its own university, said it would be a symbol of the party's strength and struggle.
Speaking to reporters after opening the Tanah Merah Umno division delegates meeting here Friday, Dr Shafie said the setting up of an Umno university was important because several other Barisan Nasional component parties had their own universities.
MCA had Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman while MIC had the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) and Gerakan had established a distance-learning programme, he said.
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Lrong.
ReplyDeleteI share your concern about this 'troubling' development.
However, this is not the only ills in higher education. Politics has already crept into institution of higher education. Academician who are conscious of this fact are worried about politically-connected, but, academically-inferior academics being put into position of power, due to their 'know-who'. IPTAs, (public higher education institutions) being run according to ruling parties political masters' wishes and IPTSs (private higher education institutions) being run by businessmen with political connection to the ruling parties.
These 'clowns' are ruining the education system with their notion that education is a 'money-making' venture. Dam*!
Can the conscious do anything about all these ills? Most of them choose to stay out of trouble, rather than to incur the wrath of the ruling political parties. There's no freedom AFTER speech. It is very sad, like me, a junior academician, scared of retribution from the ruling government if caught in critisizing them, even constructively, hence me writing anonymously at my blog. I am, however, cursing the senior academician for not speaking out, because, they are in a better position to say things. They can earn their money away from the country, unlike me, a very dispensible person in my own country, which might mean difficulties in securing employment elsewhere.
On another note, more higher education institutions are really needed in this country to cater to the need of producing academically-sound Malaysian for the job market, not only limited for Malaysian consumption, but for the whole wide world! These institutions needs to be politically-free to serve the need of the citizen!
lrong hi, i find your post has its relevance especially in religion too. since it was vesak day (happy vesak to u) yesterday, it triggers me that various political (ruling front) quarters exploit this situation to promote their "goodiness". i thought education and religion should be independent from politics, not to mention the judiciary otherwise deem sidelined and influenced.
ReplyDeletekeatix
I wasn't surprised to learn about the Proton Univ. proposal. Its seems like it is a trend in Malaysia - for companies to set up their own Universities. eg, Petronas has their own Univ. So has Tenega Nasional and Telekom (now MMU).
ReplyDeleteThought I sent in my response, but it didn't appear... so, try again...
ReplyDeleteMamat... how are you, my man? I wonder if the universities in Indonesia, Thailand, and Philippines are also that controlled by political parties. I think not. We may have to wait until we are overtaken by Thailand, then, Philippines and Indonesia, before the citizens can open their eyes as to the rot in higher education... and for that matter, in the lower rungs as well... We surely need more higher education institutions to produce academically sound Malaysians for the job markets...
Keatix... happy vesak day to you too... unfortunately, I have no clue as to what vesak day is about... supposed to be Buddhist, but ??? As for the politicians scoring points on such auspicious days, disgusting, eh... As with Mamat's comments, I do not expect a prophet to come to save us, just a level-headed leader to straighten things up in the fields of education, religion, and the judiciary...
Adam... actually you are quite on the dot... Petronas, Tenaga, and Telekom are not so much of a punching bag as Proton is, so the impact of their entry into education was probably less felt (by me)...