33 IPTS closed this year – Idris Jusoh

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Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 33 private higher education institutions (IPTS) nationwide have been closed this year, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

He said this was due to a number of reasons such as failing to comply with the required standards as well as poor management and quality due to financial problems.

The minister spoke of instances of colleges not having enough students or qualified lecturers and some asking to cease operations voluntarily.

“When we saw that they were not operating in compliance with the requirements, they should close…we can’t  jeopardise the quality of education,” he told reporters after presenting rating certificates to deserving IPTS at the Malaysian Quality Evaluation System for Private Colleges (MyQUEST)  2016/2017 Rating  programme here yesterday.

Idris underlined that the quality of private colleges in the country would not be compromised as shown by the coming into force on Nov 28 of the amended Private Higher Educational Institutions Act (Act 555) to regulate IPTS operations. Idris said for 2016/2017, a total of 336 colleges participated in MyQUEST by entering their data and responses into the web-based system and only 276 fulfilled the qualifying criteria and were eligible to be audited. Of  the 276 colleges, only 206 were rated of which 15 colleges achieved six stars – the highest rating possible – compared to nine in 2014/2015,  63 attained five stars (previously 52), 61 four stars (previously 46) and  67 three stars (previously 92).

MyQUEST is a system developed by the ministry to evaluate the performance of private colleges in Malaysia, and improve the quality of education provided. — Bernama