Education update

Malaysian Business, Feb 16, 2006 by Lynda Ng

AGENCY TO MONITOR EDUCATION QUALITY

THE Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) should have begun its job of monitoring the quality of education from Jan 1.

The agency, according to Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh, is a result of a merger of the National Accreditation Board (LAN) and the Quality Assurance Division.

MQA, which was approved by the Cabinet, serves as an agency establishing guidelines in accordance with the Malaysian Qualification Framework (MQF) for every qualification and curriculum development, quality assurance process and accreditation for every course.

In media reports, Shafie said the MQF quality system would encourage lifelong education and would link qualifications as well as establish guidelines for individuals to accumulate and transfer credits.

The agency would enable those who study on their own as well as those who have only work experience to apply to further their education at institutions of higher learning without having to submit academic qualifications.