Former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has lamented that Malaysia isn't getting what it paid for despite pouring billions into the country's education system.

 

Razaleigh, who is also BN’s Gua Musang MP, pointed out that Malaysia spent double than other Asean countries on education in terms of ratio to gross domestic product, more than Japan and South Korea in 2011.

 

"Unfortunately, the heavy spending on education in terms of gross domestic product ratio is not worth it, or at least it does not give the desired return in terms of quality and increased productivity," he said in a speech at Kolej Yayasan Saad in Melaka this morning.

 

Furthermore, he said despite the heavy spending on education, the eventual workforce that Malaysia produces also lacks productivity compared to other countries.

 

"The average Malaysian worker only recorded a productivity valued at RM43,952 a year compared to the US ,which has a productvity level of RM285,558 a year, followed by Japan at RM229,568 and Hong Kong at RM201,485.

 

"This means Malaysian workers work for longer hours compared to other countries but the return is lower," he said.

 

To overcome this problem, Razaleigh suggested that the government shift some spending from tertiary education to primary and  secondary education, with a focus on building skills.

 

He added the path to a high-wage economy should be about increasing productivity.

 

Productivity over high income

 

"It should not be solely on pursuing a high-income economy to achieve a developed nation status," he said.

 

More concerning, Razaleigh said, was that the heavy spending on education has not arrested the country's fall in several education rankings.

 

He lamented the country's education is too exam-oriented, making students mechanical in nature and not capable of critical thinking.

 

"The government needs to focus not only on good infrastructure but also on the effectiveness of the curriculum and the learning process, as well as the quality of teachers who teach our children," he said.

 

Just as worrying, he said, is the level of unemployment among graduates. 

 

He added even those who found jobs face complaints from employers about a lack of IT skills, command of the English language, communication skills, and other issues.

 

"Since the Razak report in 1956, English language was emphasised as a second language in schools and universities.

 

"What has happened to us today that we are facing problems with an international communications language?" he said.