‘Don’t be too obsessed with world rankings’

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.

GOMBAK: Institutes of higher learning should not be too obsessed with world rankings.

“We shouldn’t get carried away with ranking systems that are profit-driven,” said Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik (pic).

There’s no pride in being a highly-ranked university if our graduates lacked integrity, he said.

“When you don’t have integrity, problems like plagiarism, and lecturers putting their names on students’ papers, arise.

“There’s no point in being highly ranked if our students treat those with disabilities or those who are different from them, poorly.”

Has there been real change in our institutes that are highly ranked, he asked.

“Are more students wanting to study there? Are they attracting more international lecturers?”

More important than rankings, he said, was the ability to produce graduates who are good citizens, who care about the environment, and are considerate of others.

Happiness, love and mutual respect, are values that must be inculcated in the pursuit of a positive, life-long learning environment, he said during the launch of the values-based education seminar at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) here yesterday.

He said it’s not enough for children to know how to read, count, and write. They must care about humanity too.

He said the national education philosophy was still very relevant although it has been neglected in the new millennia.

The national philosophy focuses on producing balanced individuals through continuous and holistic efforts based on a belief in God, he said.

“There’s nothing wrong with a Muslim wishing a Christian ‘Merry Christmas’.

“In a multi-racial nation, there needs to be a re-emphasis on the philosophy so that everyone regardless of race and religion, prospers.

“We want Malaysians who are knowledgeable and of good character so that they can contribute to the well-being of themselves, their families, the community and country.”