NEP reason behind UM’s falling standards
Race-based admission quotas and political interference had caused UM’s poor global standing, says a World Bank report.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim blamed the race-based affirmative actions of the New Economic Policy (NEP) for the dwindling standards of Universiti Malaya (UM).
A recent World Bank study said race-based admission quotas and political interference had caused UM’s poor global standing, something Anwar said was the by-product of the NEP which was only used to enrich Malay cronies.
“UM’s falling ranking is because it does not prioritise academic excellence but racial interests,” the former deputy prime minister told a press conference in his office in Parliament here.
UM, once considered a prestigious institute of higher learning, is now falling way behind in the global ranking while universities from neighbouring countries have taken over.
The World Bank study further stated that Singapore’s decision to prioritise research, keep English as the medium of instruction and maintain a merit-based admissions policy have all contributed to the success of the National University of Singapore.
It further said the NEP made Bumiputeras less competitive as the policy created more scholarships for them, special programmes to facilitate their entry into higher education institutions, and the use of the Malay language in place of English in the entire education system.
“Over time, they secured almost all senior management, administrative, and academic positions,” the study said.
