EduTalk: Tackles crucial issues in education

By, Mohammad Shahziq Saleem

GOMBAK, May 11 2024: MRC Mahallah Sumayyah organised the event, EduTalk: Issues and Reform on 9 May 2024 in the Main Auditorium, IIUM Gombak Campus, with the purpose to address key issues in education.

The secretary of MRC Sumayyah cum program manager, Mia Saleha Binti Saiful Habash, in an exclusive interview with IIUMToday said, œThe goal of the event is to increase awareness of the current challenges in education, as well as to foster an open dialogue among participants to encourage them to exchange ideas and perspectives on the issue.

Some of the notable speakers of the talk were the Rector of the IIUM, â Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Dzulkifli Abdul Razak; AIKOL lecturer, Assoc. Prof. Datuk Dr. Shamrahayu Ab Aziz; â Chairman of Bureau OKU Parti Keadilan Rakyat, YB Senator Tuan Isaiah D. Jacob, and, Activist and President of Youth Care Malaysia, Mr. Jabir Meftah.

The talk was divided into two scopes i.e. scope 1: Tertiary Education Framework and, scope 2: Tertiary Education and Autonomy.

For scope 1, the first question by the moderator was directed to â Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Dzulkifli, which focused on how the idea of the integration of knowledge is a sustainable solution to achieving global and collective goals.

To answer this question, â Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Dzulkifli explained the importance of the diversity of knowledge and how we can connect various types of knowledge to solve an issue. He also said, œSustainable development means how you connect the knowledge around you and make more meaning from it.

The second question was directed to YB. Senator Tuan Isaiah, as he was asked whether our tertiary education system will be embracing the inclusivity policy. He said that there are more improvements needed in our territory education compared to other countries. Nevertheless, he impressed upon how much the IIUM has improved compared to how it was when it was located at Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Assoc. Prof. Datuk. Dr. Shamrahayu was asked about how the constitution can play a role in shaping a country’s education system. She answered by mentioning about the written constitution in Malaysia that provides the right to liberty in education and underscores the government’s role in providing proper education.

The last question in scope 1 was directed to Mr. Jabir Meftah, as he was asked about his aspiration, ‘Leave no one behind in the context of education and how he would advocate for it. He answered by saying that education should focus more on an individualistic level and further discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) can help students in gaining knowledge.

In scope 2, â Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Dzulkifli was asked if the Zahid Higher Education Report which mentions, “universities operate like a bureaucracy rather than centres run by intellectuals,” is still relevant to the reforms for the university’s autonomy.

â Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Dzulkifli answered, œthe university of today is not for education, but it is more used as a part of a marketing strategy for commercial reasons. He further spoke about how different universities were in the past and now.

YB. Senator Tuan Isaiah was then asked whether he agreed that persons with disabilities (PwDs) should be treated as equals and be given the power to govern in the university on areas such as funding, policy guidelines etc. He also expressed his concerns on the lack of enforcement in terms of the right of PwDs to get equal treatment despite the various provisions by the government.

Assoc. Prof. Datuk. Dr. Shamrahayu later was asked on her opinion about the amendment to the University and University College Act 1971 or AUKU 1971, where she emphasised the importance of the legal framework in education and how it is important in determining the purpose of education for the nation.

Finally, Mr. Jabir Meftah was asked whether student activism should be governed or would it be better to be independent, in which he gave his opinion that it should be independent in a university setting and students should be comfortable with sharing their ideas.

The event followed by an Question and Answer session for the audience and a photography session before dispersing. ***