Every student should be given the opportunity to develop their unique strengths, says former deputy higher education minister Saifuddin Abdullah.
Saifuddin said a democratic education system is one that nurtures diverse talents, not one that imposes a one-size-fits-all standard.
“The opportunity doesn’t have to look the same for everyone, because people have different preferences and talents.
“The expectation that everyone will achieve the same standard is quite utopian. There will always be high achievers, late bloomers, and those who simply enjoy doing different things,” he said in an interview with FMT.
Saifuddin said the democratisation of education does not mean holding back high-performing schools. Instead it is about supporting underperforming ones with the right resources, both professionally and financially.
He also urged public universities to place greater emphasis on co-curricular achievements when evaluating applicants who hold the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) qualification.
“Currently, the weightage for entry into public universities is 90% academic performance and 10% co-curricular involvement.
“My proposal is a 70:30 split, because there are individuals who are not only strong academically but also excel in other talents,” he said.
The Indera Mahkota MP also suggested that special arrangements be made to accommodate athletes who wish to pursue degrees on a non-traditional timeline.
He said few athletes presently opt for law or medical-related degrees because they feel unable to juggle the demands of their sport with the time-intensive nature of such programmes.
“Universities still struggle to accommodate the different learning styles and needs of students.
“For instance, a national basketball player who wants to study medicine may not be able to complete the course within the typical timeframe. Such students should be granted some flexibility.
“We don’t want a situation where the player, despite representing the country in basketball, can never become the medical doctor they aspire to be because the university doesn’t know how to support their needs.
“That’s not to say we should compromise on the quality (of their education) either,” he said.
He said similar flexibility should be given to students taking gap years or pursuing studies in a non-linear way.
