Why zero in on Crimea State?
P Ramasamy
Jun 30, 05 2:01pm



The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) has come out to say that it will
not extend recognition to Ukraine's Crimea State Medical University
after Dec 31, 2006. Such a decision - without any prior warning -
has come a rude shock to many Malaysians particularly the students
intending to study there.

It is a disappointment to the Malaysian public for various reasons.
First, it is not clear why the MMC zeroed on this particular
university when there are many other universities in Southeast Asia,
the Middle East and South Asia also recognised by the Malaysian
government. Many of these universities have doubtful teaching and
clinical standards but are nonetheless tolerated by the MMC and the
Malaysian government.

Second, by specifically focusing on the medical standards of CSMU,
questions are raised about the objectivity and impartiality of MMC's
assessment of its curriculum, teaching methods, student-lecturer
ratio and others.

Third, while the Malaysian public expects the MMC to advise the
government on the quality of medical programmes in various
recognised universities, it is unclear whether the MMC itself
initiated the present de-recognition of CSMU.

Fourth, knowing very well that the admission criteria for medical
schools in Malaysia is biased in favour of those taking the
matriculation entrance examination, it is not very clear whether the
MMC's real intention to de-recognize the CSMU is based on
considerations other than academic.

Fifth, some are arguing that the MMC's decisions to de-recognise the
CSMU is related to the need to balance the entry of Malays and non-
Malays into medical schools both here and abroad.

Given the demand for medical education in universities that are good
and cheap, it is quite natural that some students might have used
the assistance of unscrupulous agencies to gain admission without
the necessary credentials.

In this regard, it always wise for the MMC and the government to
take the necessary steps to weed out these black sheep rather than
punish those who have not committed any crime. CSMU might not be the
top medical school in the entire world, however, it at the same time
is not as bad as some of the schools currently recognised by the
Malaysian government.

The decision to de-recognise the CSMU comes at time when there is so
much controversy about higher education in general and entry into
medical education in particular. Not only is there a mismatch
between the two entry points into local universities, there is also
a certainly perceived discrimination against the entry of non-
bumiputeras into medical schools.

Therefore, given the strong traditional predilection of many Indian
parents to send their children to medical schools, entry into cheap
and good foreign medical universities has emerged as a viable
alternative option for them.

This explains why the MIC was so upset by the MMC's decision to de-
recognise the CSMU, leading to the outbursts by one of its deputy
ministers in parliament.

The situation of higher education has become very critical in the
country. The government has simply no vision to provide a good
alternative for Malaysians. And once the university intakes are
announced under the notorious meritocracy system, the problem will
be compounded.

I suggest the following measures to be adopted by the government to
defuse the present tensions in society.

First, make an announcement to cancel the recent decision to de-
recognise the CSMU pending a major study to ascertain the merits or
demerits of certain controversial medical schools abroad.

Second, if not too late for this year, make an announcement to
replace the present meritocracy- based university intake system with
a different system. Third, make allowances for a more effective
representation of marginalised groups in critical academic
disciplines such as medicine, engineering and dentistry.

The deteriorating situation of higher education in Malaysia cannot
be resolved overnight. What is needed right now is the correct
political will on the part of the government to rise above narrow
ethnic sectarian concerns to ensure that our educational system
caters for the interests of all ethnic groups.