KUALA LUMPUR: Education and its role in transforming the life of the people is a priority of the Barisan Nasional government which will continue to be championed for the sake of all, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Describing the people of this country as fortunate, he said the government had implemented many policies to enable the people of all backgrounds to improve the standard of living of their families within only one generation.
“For instance, through efforts, education, assistance and the platforms which the government had provided, the son of a fisherman could be successful today as a doctor, engineer and all sorts of other jobs which could change the standard of living of his whole family to a better level.
“This is the social mobility that the BN government has brought to all the people of Malaysia all this while, regardless of race, and we will continue to provide and champion it for the good of all,” he said in his posting on his blog www.najibrazak.com today.
The prime minister also expressed his pride in the success of several local universities in attaining better ratings in the global rankings.
Five local research universities (RU) had previously created history after they were listed in the top 300 best universities in the world, according to a list drawn up by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking 2017-2018.
These universities were Universiti Malaya (UM); Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM); Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). “Universiti Malaya (UM)’s ranking rose 19 ranks to 114th place, which means it is not far from breaking into the 100th best in the world, while Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) rose 72 places, the best achievement this year.
“Similarly Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), all rose in ranking,” he said.
Meanwhile, five universities namely UPM, UTM, USM, UKM and Universiti Teknologi Petronas, were also in the list of 200 best universities in Asia-Pacific region 2017, as listed by the Times Higher Education.
He said, in the list of Universitas 21, a global network of research universities for the 21st century, the Malaysian higher education system was placed at 25th place of the best in the world, rising 11 places within six years.
“Thanks to Allah, this is part of the many successes attained by our universities, an achievement which not only makes us proud but also proves that the national education system is at a positive stage.
“Even so, I am convinced we are capable of achieving more, and with the continued efforts of all related parties, national education will continue to grow from time to time to a higher level, God willing,” he said. - Bernama