A MINISTER is a politician who heads a ministerial department or portfolio, where decisions on public policies are formulated and implemented using taxpayer monies.
The characteristics of good ministers are knowing the scope of work and policy responsibilities as well as a willingness to work hard, go down to the ground and build a good team.
The controversy about the academic credentials of several ministers and deputy ministers has raised an intriguing question as to whether an academic qualification is necessary for ministers to be credible and effective in their work.
I believe that ministers must not only earn a degree from an accredited university, but also graduate with flying colours, before being assigned to a ministry that will benefit from their academic expertise.
This belief is based on three rationales.
FIRST, a degree that is accredited has withstood the test of scrutiny by accreditation agencies, and thus recognised for meeting educational standards.
This, in turn, provides credibility to the decisions made in the minister’s area of expertise.
SECOND, the grades that a minister earns for his degree is a reflection of his capability in tackling issues in his area of expertise.
Good grades, in turn, provide confidence in the public policies that the minister agrees to table in Parliament and to be implemented by government agencies under his ministerial purview.
THIRD, a degree is arguably the minimum standard for entry into most jobs.
For example, university lecturers, like myself, are not allowed to teach without a university degree, a requirement put in place by the Education Ministry to ensure that students are taught by educators who are well-qualified in their craft.
Thus, it is only sensible if ministers, whom we expect to represent the public’s interest in the government, are held to the same standards.
The truth is that no other platform is quite as comprehensive and equipped as collegiate programmes, such as a university degree, when it comes to providing a wealth of experience, knowledge and training in one package.
For our country to progress, we must hold our ministers to the highest of standards, and that includes accepting only the most academically and professionally qualified politicians to hold public office. After all, Plato, in his philosophical stance for the ruling class, thought that this was a reasonable idea.
Associate Professor Dr Lim Weng Marc, Head of school, School of Business, Swinburne University of Technology, Kuching, Sarawak