Higher Education Ministry looking to lessen burden of students, says Khaled Nordin

JOHOR BARU: The Higher Education Ministry is looking at ways to lessen the burden of students, including by introducing flexible courses and shortening the study period for certain programmes at public universities.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (pic) said introducing a flexible study arrangement would allow students to undergo their studies at home for two years before completing the remainder of their course physically at the university.

“This helps to reduce the cost of living for the students as they will be staying at home, compared to when they have to stay at hostels on campus.

“The ministry is also considering shortening the duration of certain courses from four years to three years. We are still studying the matter,” he told reporters after officiating a RM75mil scholarship fund by a local university here on Saturday (Feb 25).

He added that the ministry would also look at improving the tuition fees for the courses as there would be lesser usage of the university facilities.

On the Budget 2023 announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday (Feb 24), Mohamed Khaled said the RM15.3bil allocated to his ministry was higher than last year’s budget of RM14.5bil.

This includes RM428mil for research and development across ministries and disciplines on topics to help the nation face the current and upcoming challenges, he added.