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‘We don’t have 30, 40 years to be world’s best’

YOURSAY ‘By that time, we would have lost two generations.’

 

'Our education to be world best in 30, 40 years'

Negarawan: Education Minister II Idris Jusoh said Malaysia has already surpassed Singapore in terms of publications in scientific journals.

 

But it is not quantity but quality that counts. One can publish his/her works in low-grade journals or conferences and claim he/she has published widely even though the citation is low.

 

The real measurement of any publication is the impact it brings to society, and how relevant it is to current and future research.

 

If it takes 30 to 40 years for Malaysia to catch up, it simply means Singapore's education standard is far ahead.

 

The question is: Why has Malaysia fallen 30 to 40 years behind Singapore when we have a common history? Part of the answer is reflected in the shallow mentality and incompetence of ministers like Idris.

 

We need intellectuals with high integrity to run the country, like Singapore.

 

Quigonbond: In 30 to 40 years, we will top the world in terms of number of publications. Yet, it has nothing to do with quality, which translates to innovation, patents and downstream industrial development.

 

Idris should stop spewing superficial numbers and focus on real deliverables.

 

Justine Gow: If we are so good, how come we need another 30 to 40 years to surpass Singapore or to be the best in the world?

 

I guess it was safer for Idris to say "30 to 40 years" instead of "three to four years", as he wouldn't be around to be embarrassed by what he had said.

 

Doc: Probably most of the scientists' papers are published in lower-level scientific journals or local Malaysian scientific journals. This concept is similar to how the government-linked universities in Malaysia churn out huge numbers of graduates who are unemployable.

 

2Kali5: Mr Menteri, please wake up. If our universities' academicians are producing so many scientific publications in noteworthy journals, why is our ranking still so far behind?

 

Malaysia Ku: All this rubbish about being best in the world in education - if indeed Malaysia can reach Singapore's current standard in 30 years, our neighbour by that time would be another 30 years ahead of us, if not more.

 

And it's real silly to even mention that we have numerical supremacy over Singapore for scientific publications. May I ask in which internationally-reputed journals are these papers cited?

 

And by the way, you can't even project anything beyond your nose. Why talk about what happens in 30 years' time when you would not be around to answer for your nonsense?

 

Mohgui: Another cheap, 'syiok sendiri' statement. Idris never considered that other countries would also improve their education level in 30 to 40 years.

 

To him, only Malaysia would improve and others would remain stagnant, which is unheard of.

 

Instead of saying, "what changes do we need to make right now," we continue to sing praises to our education system even though the country is ranked near the bottom. God save Malaysia.

 

Lim Chong Leong: In 30 to 40 years, we would have lost two generations. As for scientific journals, it really depends what you call scientific, like the anti-hysteria research that borders on mumbo-jumbo bomohism.

 

Old Timer: If Idris thinks that our education will be the best in the world, beating Harvard and Oxford, we would like to see the plan for it and not just talk. At least then we can see where our tax money is going to.

 

But at the rate we are going, Idris, those in our generation will not see a good education system in our lifetime, and not even those in their 30s. Probably not even those born yesterday.

 

Dalvik: While we once had one of the best universities in Asia (Universiti Malaya), look at where its position is now.

 

Then again, when independent reports reveal that our university rankings have tumbled, ministers would say such reports did not matter, were not accurate, or failed to reflect the real situation.

 

We have given you more than 50 years, and things have gotten worse. Now you’re telling us you can do better in the next 30 years?

 

Fair&Just: Idris wants to compare us with Singapore. Just be real: when the oil wells have dried up, the oil palm, rubber and timber trees all withered away, with no more tin and pepper, then only go compare yourselves with Singapore which has nothing (of Malaysia's resources).

 

SemoLina: This minimally exceptional minister ought to donate his brains (if any) for the benefit of science. Maybe we should cryogenically preserve it for transplant in 30 or 40 years' time. He deserves to witness the coming true of his predictions.

 

SRMan: From the way things are going in this country, our country's education could indeed be the "world's best in 30 to 40 years' time", but more likely counting from the bottom.

 

Jaycee: Here we go again, being delusional. That is why we will continue the race to the bottom.


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