KUALA LUMPUR: The abrupt shift to online learning, combined with the movement restrictions implemented during the Covid-19 outbreak two years ago, has affected the mental health and wellbeing of students, especially those who were stuck on university premises.
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Roziah Mohd Janor said to address this issue, measures were taken to help undergraduates adapt to the new learning methods implemented during the first Movement Control Order (MCO).
"We understand that it was a bit stressful for students to cope with new learning methods when the MCO was implemented. Everything, including examinations, has been done online until now.
"Hence, we developed an online counselling system that is convenient for our students to reach out to.
"Most of the time, these students are too shy to reach out for help, so the online counselling system provides avatars for the students to communicate with."
Roziah said with the new learning methods, UiTM saw a slight increase in the number of failures in the first semester during the MCO. However, she said, this was resolved the following semester as counselling assistance was provided to the students.
"Looking at the statistics, we have only four potential dropouts for every 1,000 students for a bachelor's degree. Hence, it is not a big number for UiTM and through the continuous measures that are taken, it is manageable."
National Student Representative Council Alumni Association president Amir Asyraf Sabri said it was imperative for universities to ensure that undergraduates' mental health and wellbeing were taken care of throughout their studies.
"Data has shown that some of these students do not perform well because they either chose the wrong programme or blindly accepted any programme that was offered to them.
"Some even choose a programme to please their parents, which has contributed to the (high) rate of dropouts among undergraduate students.
"Hence, the IPTA (public higher learning institutions) should reinforce counselling and psychosocial services to support students who are under emotional or mental stress due to failure in examinations or failure to enrol for subjects."
Amir said the danger signs of undergraduate dropouts should not be ignored by policymakers.
"The students' progress should also be monitored to better help those who are at risk of failing. This could ensure that students cope better with the problems that they are facing and instil confidence in them.
"Therefore, we hope the Higher Education Ministry, together with public universities, is committed to addressing the issue and reducing the annual dropout rate."