MALAYSIA: Major revamp for polytechnic education

Technical and polytechnic education in Malaysia will be overhauled this year in order to restore public confidence, writes Richard Lim for The Star. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the move was necessary as polytechnics were currently regarded as a second chance route for weaker students and this perception had to change.

Focusing on human capital development, the change would see polytechnics focusing solely on diploma and higher-level courses. More places and opportunities for further study would also be offered to increase the public's accessibility to higher education.

"To present polytechnic studies as an equally good alternative, the ministry will reduce certificate and low-skilled technical courses in stages at all polytechnics," he said in his 2010 address to ministry staff and the top brass of Malaysia's higher education institutions at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. Describing the overhaul as a step-by-step 'levelling up' process, Mohamed Khaled added that three premier polytechnics would be established this year to spearhead the ministry's efforts.
Full report on The Star site