OVER 100 investigation papers have been opened against private higher education institutions for various offences in the last five years, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said compliance audits conducted on 355 institutions from 2019 to 2024 revealed issues related to a lack of compliance with the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act (Act 555).
“The ministry opened a total of 146 investigation papers,” he said during Minister’s Question Time.
Mustapha said 82 compound notices were issued to errant institutions.
He said the most common offences were institutions not updating the Chief Registrar on changes involving particulars (28 compounds), operating out of premises not permitted for education institutions (12) and academics without valid teaching permits (47) – all offences under Act 555.
Mustapha said compliance audits are done periodically as required under the law.
“The ministry views issues involving private education institutions seriously. If the public has complaints about private higher education institutions, they can channel them through the Public Complaints Management System,” he added.
He was responding to Mordi Bimol (PH-Mas Gading) who asked about fraud involving private higher education institutions.
Mordi also asked about the government’s actions on National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan approvals, unaccredited courses and institutions enrolling students who do not meet requirements.
Mustapha said these were among the serious issues the ministry was looking into.
According to statistics from 2023, over 24,000 students dropped out of public higher education institutions due to financial problems.
As for private institutes enrolling ineligible students, he said conditional enrolment was an offence under Act 55.
“In 2024, 28 compound notices were issued to private higher education institutions for this offence,” he said.
