JOHOR BAHARU: All higher learning institutions (IPTs) including polytechnics in this country are expected to participate in the rating exercise in future.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this was important to enable students to make the right decision by choosing the best IPT or of quality to further their studies.
“The ministry has indeed been implementing rating systems on public and private IPTs including university colleges through Setara, private colleges through MyQuest and politechnics through Polyrate.
“These systems evaluate the quality of the IPTs, specifically in the area of learning and teaching at the first degree and diploma levels, and we believe these systems would assist students in choosing the right IPT to go to.”
He said this when opening the state-level “Jom Masuk U” (Lets Go To University) Carnival held at Persada Johor, here, yesterday.
At the same time, he said, positive developments in this area would also influence all IPTs including polytechnics to participate in the Setara, MyQuest or Polyrate exercise as quality IPTs would be the choice for students.
On another development, Mohamed Khaled said his ministry had never forbidden any undergraduate to be a candidate in the upcoming general election.
“This is because the government believes that this group is already mature and capable of making decisions. That is why the government amended the Universities and University Colleges Act to give them the freedom to engage in politics.
“But if they are too keen and active in politics to the extent of wanting to contest in the elections, it is up to them.
“They are mature enough to determine whether they will succeed or not, but based on our observation, they usually don’t do well in their studies,” he said. — Bernama