Read in a local daily that the Government is asking all public and private tertiary institutions to set up centres for lifelong learning to cater for mature students. OOOOOk, this is not a new thing. Many lifelong learning symposium and conferences have been hosted in Malaysia, both at local and international level. I had the opportunity to attend a Conference or two. I was hoping there would be some lessons learnt.
Hmmm... with this latest proposal, I dare say that nothing has been learnt from past experiences. If there is a plan from the Minstry from Higher Education, I am of the opinion that perhaps it should be discussed and proposed collectively by HEs. After all, there must be a reason why education was split to two Ministries. Who is behind this plan? Can we know? I would like to know.
I attended the ASEM Lifelong Learning Conference held at the Asia-Europe Institute in University Malaya in 2003 and one of the resolutions is to set up a NATIONAL LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE. This institute will then coordinate Lifelong Learning centrally nationwide, and the institutions of higher learning can offer their respective courses via the institute. Accreditaions of prior learning and the like can be likewise coordinated centrally.
Otherwise, there will again be all round duplication with the lack of coordination with everyone doing their 'own thing' and I have been in education long enough to know that this will again be a release of cough at the ladder (you have to interprete this, Malaysians). Please, please do it right, and don't repeat past practices that does not work ... Aiyaaa, tak tau lah .. |
