English quality of local university students much better now - Idris Jusoh

The mastering of the English Language among students in local universities is much better now and this is recognised at international level, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said Saturday.

He attributed this to efforts by the government to improve the quality of higher education in the country.

As such, he said, the public should change their perception by not looking down at the English quality of local university students.

"From studies conducted, the quality of their English is better. That is why the ministry has raised the condition for university entry by making compulsory for applicants to pass the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) with band 2 and 3.

"If our students are that bad, how can we emerged the champion in the international level debate at Cambridge (University of Cambridge)," he told reporters after opening the ministry's Soaring Upwards' programme at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (Unisza) here Saturday.

Idris said the mastering of English by local graduates was recognised by other countries which also found the quality of the English higher than by graduates from some countries.