Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed has announced plans to overhaul the country's higher education system.

Among his plans are to amend several acts including the controversial Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA), setting up a grading system for institutions of higher learning, enhancing the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) and following up on the 'frozen' Zahid Report.

The minister said that amendments of the acts and drafting of the new Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) Act will be carried out this year.

Besides UUCA, the National Accreditation Board (LAN) Act, the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act and other related acts will also be studied and reviewed, he told a press conference after visiting the LAN office in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

This law revamp aims to encourage the development and improvement of the higher education system, he said.

However, Mustapa declined to reveal details of the amendments especially UUCA which has come under strong criticisms from various quarters as it is seen to be curbing the rights of expression and association of university students.

Mustafa's predecessor, Shafie Salleh, had announced the ministry's decision to review the act but nothing has happened so far.

Zahid Report made public

On the Zahid Report, which was completed nine months ago, the minister said it will be made public in September.

Mustapa revealed that the report had been submitted to the cabinet and it will be updated to fit into the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the internationalisation of higher education and the primary and secondary education system.

"The report will be ready for public consumption by September," he said.

The report was prepared by a commission led by former Education director-general Wan Zahid Noordin to provide recommendations for the reformation of local institutions of higher learning. The commission was appointed in Jan 2005 and given six months to complete the task.

Despite demands from politicians and academicians, Shafie had declined to reveal its contents after it was completed.

The report will become one of the major references in charting policies relating to the nation's higher education system.

On the PTPTN, Musatapa announced that a long-term funding mechanism which could provide more loans to studentsd is being prepared.

According to him, a special task team had been assigned to come out with suggestions to enhance the administration and management of PTPTN.

The nation's biggest study loan provider is under heavy fire over the years for its poor administration.