Reports on education system a waste of time, says Rafidah

Looi Sue-Chern Looi Sue-Chern Updated 7 years ago · Published on 10 Nov 2018 9:12PM · 17 Comments

Former minister Rafidah Aziz says university and college degrees do not guarantee success in life, and it is high time that parents change their mindset. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 10, 2018.

THERE is no need for Malaysia to come up with reports on the education system, or even produce scientists, said Rafidah Aziz.

By the time the reports are written, said the former international trade and industry minister, the rest of the world would have already moved ahead.

“So many studies, so many reports, but nobody looks at them. So no need,” she said during the Nurture, Engage, eXchange Leadership Conference in Penang today.

For Malaysia to keep up with the world, said Rafidah, the government need only consult the private sector and ask industry players, both local and foreign, what they need in terms of human capital and skills.

“They’ll tell you. I used to chair a consultative council with leaders in academia and representatives of the chambers of commerce.

“They’ll tell you what areas to focus on, and whether the syllabus needs to be changed. That’s how you do it.

“If you conduct studies, the world would have already moved ahead, leaving you behind by the time the reports are finished. Things would be overtaken by events, and factories moved elsewhere if we don’t respond quickly.”

She stressed that working in partnership with the private sector is the way to go.

The business sector cannot be ignored, and Putrajaya should collaborate with private sector players to form strategies, she said.

“Academia delivers human resources, not just mortar boards and scrolls. It has to know what the marketplace wants.

“Not everyone can go for government jobs, which are limited. The private sector creates job demand, and businesses can grow further if they have the required human capital and skill set.”

Rafidah said university and college degrees do not guarantee success in life, and it is high time that parents change their mindset.

She said a creative and innovative individual could turn out more successful than “a person with a first-class degree in don’t know what”.

“That’s the reality of life. It is good to have a degree, but it’s not necessary.”

On the push for students to pursue STEM, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics, education, she said there is no need for Malaysia to produce scientists.

“Was Bill Gates a scientist?” she said, referring to the Microsoft founder, who is one of the world’s richest individuals.

“Many of the people disrupting technology now are not scientists. Not everyone can be one. You can’t train them. They are unique.

“It is like saying you must become a prime minister to change the nation. Come on, how many PMs do we need? Do people need to be ministers so that the country can run? Oh God!

“We want creative people who can create businesses and add value to what other scientists have discovered – be it a product or technology. It is up to us to train them.”

Earlier, Rafidah gave parenting advice to the audience, telling them to nurture their children well and demonstrate leadership at home.

Only then would the country have competent students, she said.

She added that many parents are too busy with work, leaving their children to be cared for by maids.

“Remember how our parents taught us? There was always a cane (at home). When the teacher complained to my father about me, I die.

“But today, when a teacher whacks your child, you go to the MP, if not the chief minister, to complain and to get the teacher transferred…. twist their ears, and the CM and social media will know about it.

“You don’t believe the teacher, but the teacher is doing you a service.

“You condone (bad) behaviour and the bullying (your child does)... What are you bringing up? Kleptos (thieves) and bullies.” – November 10, 2018.

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Comments

  • THis lady puts a lot of Ministers both UmnoBN and PH to shame. She knows what she wants to do and very decisive too. If only she is a bit more younger and energetic to take on the Premiership..... BUT she still could and I bet cha she will win it hands down and a wise PM too. There is nothing more for her to grab as she has almost everthing but can she sacrifice and offer her time and space to do it ???? Give it a go Rafidah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Absolutely spot on!

    Posted 7 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • You want better education...create better educators.. we have 95 % rubbish teachers in government schools. Sack them all.

    Posted 7 years ago by Alphonz Jayaraman · Reply

  • ENGLISH!?

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • ALSO BRING BACK ENGLISH IN A BIG WAY, LIKE IT WAS AT THE TIME OF MERDEKA (INDEPENDENCE) IN 1957, AND WE WILL ALL BE WELL & FINE (ESPECIALLY THE MALAYS, AND THE OTHER MALAYSIANS AS WELL)..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • If there is one other person with the brains wit and charm to be the leader of this country like Indira Gandhi Merkel Thatcher and Benazir Bhutto, it is Rafidah Aziz. She is knowledgeable listens to the ground and is consistent. She should be the next PM

    Posted 7 years ago by Michael Raj · Reply

  • Our next PM!. No bull - says it as it is and gets it done. My favourite Minister when she was one

    Posted 7 years ago by Watchdog Watchdog · Reply

  • Who created all the problems in MoE and brought down the quality of our education to the "longkang". Just scroll back 30- 40 years. The dumbnos (including some in PH) were the ones who caused the wide gaps.

    Posted 7 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • I like this iron lady. No nonsense and direct to the point. All out newbie ministers need her counsel and direction...

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • Just do away with jaguh kampong exam like the SPM that produces ten of thousands of straight A student every year. Adopt the Cambridge syllabus and exam. The education level will be lifted up in no time.

    Posted 7 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Our Mazlee is too sentimental and not pragmatic. Please step down.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Well said Rafidah. Our politicians and civil servants please listen. She has more wisdom than 80% of our ministers.....combined.

    Posted 7 years ago by Philip Ting · Reply

  • I hope Dr Mahathir will appoint Rafidah as a Senator and appoint her as the Minister of Education. She has the foresight and guts to change Malaysian education into a much better system than now. She can do it!

    Posted 7 years ago by Jordan Lee · Reply

  • Absolutely correct Madam. The standard civil servants' way for doing nothing is to request for more and more studies and consultant's report which are kept in the cupboard until there is another request for another study.....

    Posted 7 years ago by Steven Chow · Reply

  • Tan Sri Rafidah, you still have a lot to contribute to our beloved country. You should seriously consider a return to active politics and go for the top office. I am sure Tun M will welcome your participation. All the best.

    Posted 7 years ago by Pang Freddie · Reply

  • Tun asked Maszlee to overhaul our Education Syllabus. Now Dr Maszlee wants to form a committee of academias, which will go on countless "belajar sambil belajar" tours with their families and end up appointing some expensive consultants to tell us in 2022 what the industry already knows - Malaysia needs a motivated, competent, technology enabled, multi-lingual workforce with a global mindset to compete in the world stage, not an artificial pass based on some bell curve. Tun should have simply asked for Maszlee to be overhauled instead.

    Posted 7 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • Rafidah will be the best Education Minister we ever had if she is given the position. Tun M, please replace maszlee with her as soon as possible. The country cannot wait. We need to move forward fast and only the best education for our young ones can drive us ahead of the others. The people believe Rafidah can do it. We trust her to do it. Tun M, please consider.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lily Cheong · Reply