Exploring Access & Equity in Malaysia s Private Higher Education

Transcription

1 Exploring Access & Equity in Malaysia s Private Higher Education Tham Siew Yean Institute of Malaysian & International Studies Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 12 October

2 Content Objectives of Study Development of PrHEIs Government Policies Access & Equity Concepts & measurements Outcomes in Malaysia Conclusion 2

3 Objectives of Study Background: Increasing demand, limited public provision Increase in private provision: Who gets educated? Improved inclusion or enhanced exclusion? Objectives: Assess the impact of growth of PrHEIs in Malaysia on access and equity 3

4 Development of PrHEIs in Malaysia Historical backdrop Current State: Table 1. Number of Private University/Colleges, as at 2010 No. Category of Private Institutions 1 Private Universities 21 2 University Colleges 24 3 Foreign University Branch Campuses 5 4 Colleges Total 440 SOURCE: Higher Education Statistics retrieved from MOHE Number of Private Institutions 4

5 Government Policies Excess demand Table 2. Applicants and Intake into Local Universities, academic sessions 1981/ /92 (First Degree Only) Applicants Intake Accepted Year 1981/82 16,698 5, /83 19,522 6, /84 28,858 6, /85 32,168 7, /86 32,209 8, /87 28,755 9, /89 24,155 8, /90 23,331 8, /92 25,730 10, Source: Yee and Lim (1995) as cited in Tan and Santhiram 2009:4. 5

6 Government Policies (Contd) Vision 2020: educational hub Continuation of vision in 7 th 10 th Malaysia Plans; Also reiterated in New Economic Model (2010) National Education Strategic Plan Specific thrust on widening access and equity All require complementary role of PrHEIs 6

7 Access and Equity Concepts Evolving define access as equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups; Measurements Macro type data; Affordability measurements Depends on availability of data 7

8 Outcomes in Malaysia Increasing participation Table 3. Total Enrolment of Students in PuHEIs and PrHEIs, Year PuHEI PrHEI Total (48.9%) (51.1%) (100%) (48.4%) (51.6%) (100%) (47.7%) (52.3%) (100%) (54.3%) (45.7%) (100%) (50.6%) (49.4%) (100%) (51.1%) (48.9%) (100%) (51.2%) (48.8%) (100%) (47.5%) (52.5%) (100%) SOURCE: Higher Education Statistics, retrieved from MOHE 8

9 Outcomes : Continued Offering alternative pathways various types of transnational programs Different entry requirements Table 5. Summary of entry requirements by level Level Non-university, for example, colleges University Qualification Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Vokesional (SPMV); Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM); Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM); and Matriculation. Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) (Credits in at least 5 subjects: Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics and two other subjects); or equivalent such as A levels; and foundation programs Source: Middlehurst and Woodfield

10 Outcomes Contd. Large differences in costs tuition fees Type of University A) Branch Campuses Table 6. Annual cost of program of undergraduate business and engineering programs (RM) Undergraduate business program Cost per year (RM) Cost per year as percentage of annual income (%) Undergraduate engineering program Cost per year (RM) Range 16,200-30, ,600-37, B) Universities Cost per year as percentage of annual income (%) Range: 4,087-16, ,558-20, C) University Colleges Range: 2,910-25, ,000-58, D) Colleges Range: 6,940-27, ,000-26,

11 Outcomes Contd. Government support students loans and scholarships See Table 7 for number of loans approved for about 30% approved for PrHEIs, and 70% for PuHEIs; Provision of loans and access no family income conditions for eligibility or regional considerations: Net parental income less than RM3000 eligible for full loan; RM3001-5,000 partial loans; Above RM5000 fees only 11

12 Outcomes Contd. Table 9: Net Monthly Income of Parents of students pursuing an undergraduate business program, 2009 Mean (RM) Range (RM) Maximum Category of Private Institutions Minimum 17, , Private Universities , , University Colleges 0.00 International University Branch Campuses , , Colleges 0.00 Distance-Learning , , , Source: NHEFC 12

13 Outcomes Contd. Table 10: Net Monthly Income of Parents of students pursuing an undergraduate engineering program, 2009 Range (RM) Mean(RM) Category of Private Institutions Minimum Maximum Private Universities , , University Colleges , , International University Branch Campuses , , Colleges , , Source: NHEFC 13

14 Government support Table 8. NEEFC Allocation and Government Subsidy for Student Loans in Higher Education NHEFC Allocation for Higher Education Government Subsidy 9 th MP (RM billion) 10 th MP (RM billion) 11 th MP (RM billion) Source: MOHE 2007: 48 14

15 Scholarships Table 11. Number and amount of PSD scholarships awarded, Year PuHEIs (No.) PrHEIs (No.) Total (No.) Amount (RM million) , ,692 RM , ,266 RM , ,747 RM , ,424 RM , ,286 RM , ,753 RM , ,575 RM , ,000 RM ,823 1,177 10,000 RM306.3 Overall 61,857 2,886 64,743 RM1,167.9 Source: PSD 15

16 Other support Loans and scholarships are provided for accredited programs only; Accreditation: LAN MQA Tax incentives for the development of PrHEIs 16

17 Conclusion Government financial constraints and importance of private provision; Role of government in development of PrHEIs; Subsidized loans and scholarships Quality assurance Fiscal incentives for the development of PrHEIs 17

18 Conclusion Cautionary lessons; Sustainability of financial support schemes Poor record of repayment compliance rate of 25%; Fiscal deficit and petroleum reserves Equity issues: who should be eligible? Quality assurance: Monitoring capability; Recognition issues 18

19 Thank you 19