THE number of unemployed graduates is increasing by day. According to J. Phang, a chartered accountant and The Star columnist, the core problem is that “the Education Ministry is still operating within a ‘Production Economy’ rather than a ‘Knowledge Economy’ mentality. They view production of graduates as their sole mission, not their acceptability by industry”.
In addition, the standard of English is declining among the younger generation. Thus, the public and parents have to re-question the purpose of education. Today, universities teach careers but without the broader function and purpose. A university degree should not be functioning only to build a career but also to contribute to good citizenship and to improve the quality of life.