MOHE Orders Universities To Go Online Until The End Of 2020. Here's What You Need To Know

In a statement on Wednesday, 27 May, the MOHE said that no face-to-face lessons will be allowed as the COVID-19 pandemic continues on.

With immediate effect, the first category of students allowed to return to campus are research-based postgraduate students of both public and private higher learning institutions.

"This flexibility is given only to students who need to physically attend laboratories, workshops, and design studios, or require specialised equipment to conduct their research," the ministry said in the statement.

The latter four categories of students allowed to return to their universities will be subject to the final date of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO):

1. Final year or final semester certificate, diploma, and bachelor's degree students who need to carry out clinical work and practical training in laboratories, workshops, and design studios, or require specialised equipment. This category of students will be allowed face-to-face sessions beginning 1 July.

2. Final year or final semester students who do not have access or conducive environments to continue their lessons online. This group of students will be allowed to return to campus on 1 July to use university facilities for online lessons.

3. Students with special needs in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes at polytechnics and community colleges who require in-person assistance will be allowed to return as early as 1 August.

4. All new intake students of the 2020/2021 academic year at all public and private universities, polytechnics, and community colleges for certificate, foundation, diploma, and bachelor's degrees will be allowed back to campus in stages as follows:

- Certificate and diploma-level students at polytechnics and community colleges begin 1 July.
- Foundation, certificate, diploma, and bachelor's degree students in private universities begin 1 July.
- Foundation and diploma students in public universities begin 1 August.
- Bachelor's degree and research-based postgraduate students in public and private universities begin 1 October.

"The institutions should prioritise safety as well as social distancing. These regulations are subject to the orders by the authorities from time-to-time," it said.

According to Malaysiakini, the National Muslim Students Association (PKPIM) has called on the MOHE to roll out a new policy to reduce tuition fees in public universities.

"While PKPIM understands that every university has the freedom to make its decision, online teaching is being conducted in almost all public and private universities," said PKPIM president Ahmad Farhan Rosli in a statement.

"This proposal has factored in that almost all students take classes via their own [online] facilities without involving any infrastructure nor the facilities of universities."

"As such, it is reasonable for the ministry to place a policy to reduce this session's tuition fees for all public universities."

Ahmad Farhan pointed out that majority of public university students come from low and middle-income families who are facing economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Straits Times reported that students of private universities and colleges shared the sentiment. While they appreciated online classes, students called for a fair reduction in tuition due to the inability to access on-campus resources and facilities.

The issue was also brought up by former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on Twitter.

"Since the start of MCO, universities have stopped lessons for the safety and health of their communities. Classes and lectures are not being held. But why must they pay the same tuition?" he questioned.