KUALA LUMPUR: Higher Education Ministry is opitimistic that its Malaysian English Assessment (MEA) programme will improve the mastery of English among students,
Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh told the Dewan rakyat today that the programme would be a game-changer in raising the standards of English among students.
“The ministry launched the MEA to allow students to master the language and meet its quality in line with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
“This qualification is not only used in Malaysia but also internationally as CEFR is recognised worldwide,” he said in reply to a question from Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris (BN-Jerantut).
To a supplementary question from Nazlan on reducing the number of unemployed graduates, Idris said all universities conducted various programmes to ensure the marketability of the graduates.
“One of the programmes is the intergrated cumulative grade point average (iCGPA) where students are assessed holistically and not just through academic achievement.
“The iCGPA will increase the marketability of students as they will be also assessed on their skills such as communications, entrepreneurial and ethics.
“Beside this, the 2U21 (two years in university and two years in industry) has also attracted many industry players as this will give adequate work experience for students,” he said.
Idris said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) faculty programme which allowed CEO of multinational companies to be appointed as adjunct professors in universities had also helped students better understand industry requirements.
He added that as of now, more than 70 CEO’s had agreed to participate in the programme.
Reports by: ARFA YUNUS, FERNANDO FONG and BEATRICE NITA JAY