Zahid cadang Indeks Mobiliti Pendidikan Melayu

Vice Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi proposed the creation of an Index of Malay Education Mobility to measure how well education has raised the socio-economic standing of the Malay community. The index should track an individual's journey, starting from their socio-economic background, academic achievements, educational pathways, employment, skill alignment, and income development.

Zahid emphasized that education shouldn't be assessed solely based on the duration spent in the system or the qualifications obtained; instead, it should consider the knowledge and skills acquired and their impact on social mobility. He explained that in the theory of human capital, education is an investment, but it only becomes capital when it generates actual ability and mobility.

Zahid, who is also Umno's president, made these remarks during a speech at the Malay Education Convention on the theme of achieving AUKU and the national higher education goal at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur. He stated that the responsibility for developing the initial framework of such an index would fall on the Secretary of the Malay Education Convention 2026, Zambry Abd Kadir, and his successor, Idris Jusoh.

Zahid emphasized that Malaysia's education agenda should be more data-driven, result-oriented, and evidence-based, rather than relying solely on the number of programs, budgets, or participants. He noted that while the main focus of Malay education in recent decades has been expanding access through school construction and establishing institutions like MARA, MRSM, and UiTM, along with providing scholarships and higher education opportunities, the current challenge is not just ensuring Malays access the education system but ensuring they graduate with valuable skills and achieve higher socio-economic standing.

Zahid pointed out that the current challenge is not just ensuring Malays access the education system, but ensuring they graduate with valuable skills and achieve higher socio-economic standing. He noted that despite the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) projecting the working rate of tertiary-educated graduates matching their qualifications to rise from 69.4% to 70.1% by 2030, the Bumiputera institution tasked with leading the sector needs to set more ambitious targets.

He hoped the relevant institution would aim for at least 80% of graduates securing jobs aligned with their qualifications.