THE stature of higher education institutions globally is undergoing a decline, creating more social inequality rather than upwards mobility, says Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Alumni Association president Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak.
Higher education has become more and more elitist and exclusive. The ethos of education has been hijacked by ideologies that have turned education into a tradeable good. Unlike before, education is no longer a public good. In that sense, public institutions suffer more than their private counterparts, he notes.