THE Higher Education Ministry has limited the number of courses on Islamic and ICT studies at local institutions of higher learning due to the uncertain market for graduates in such fields.

Its deputy minister, Datuk Idris Harun, said this would help control the output of graduates in these courses.

He was responding to Nasharuddin Mat Isa (Pas-Bachok) who had said poor marketing of Islamic Studies courses had been behind the cancellation of memorandums of understanding between local Islamic institutions of higher learning and the Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

The opposition MP was unhappy that many Islamic colleges in Malaysia had been affected by the cancellation.

Idris said the ministry worked closely with the Malaysian Qualifying Agency in ensuring that certificates, diplomas and degrees issued by these institutions of higher learning were of the highest quality.
"We continue to monitor these aspects stringently as it is important for the development of public and private colleges and universities," he said in reply to Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah (BN-Jasin), who had asked the ministry to state the steps taken to control the quality of private institutions of higher learning.

To a supplementary question by Ahmad on job opportunities for graduates, Idris said the ministry was working closely with institutions of higher learning in meeting the demands of the industry.