Efforts should be made to attract youths to continue studies at IPT level - Yusof Apdal

KUCHING - Efforts to attract youths to further their studies at higher learning institutions (IPTs) are among the issues raised in the final report of the Committee to Review the National Higher Education Policy.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said this was an important matter to ensure young people possess good qualifications especially in today's competitive job market.

He said every year many Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers do not want to further their higher studies, citing wanting to enter the workforce as a reason.

"There are those who are of the opinion that is is better to earn a living for the four years than sitting in a university for the same duration. But this is a short-term view.

"We need to make youths understand that enrolling in IPTs does open up better opportunities for them," he told reporters after attending the Innovation & Technology Exposition 2023 (InTEX23) here today.

On July 12, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that a total of 59 issues and recommendations were obtained from the presentation of the final report of Committee to Review the National Higher Education Policy.

Mohamed Khaled said these were findings of a survey conducted on 34 institutions.

On March 13, Mohammad Yusof said the ministry was in the process of forming a special committee responsible for reviewing and doing in-depth research on national higher education policies.

He also said the main aim of the committee was to look at the shortcomings, weaknesses, and strengths of the existing policy and then provide their recommendations and views. - BERNAMA