Media statement by Rajiv Rishyakaran in Subang Jaya on Tuesday, 4^th October 2011:

Government has set employment KPI too low

In 2010, only 50% of Malaysian local graduates were able to secure jobs within six months after they left university. Yet Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin hails this 50% employment rate as a "success", and attributes it to government-initiated programmes such as the "MyCareer, MyFuture" programme. The programme is a collaboration between the Higher Education Ministry and My-Partners to train graduates in contact centre operations, communications and customer service.

An astounding RM6 million has been spent on the programme in less than 2 years since its inception in 2009, but the graduate employment rate has only experienced a 5% increase in the past year. A slight improvement in employment rates certainly does not equal "success".

Considering that the job market in Malaysia has improved with the gradual recovery from the global economic downturn of 2008, a 50% employment rate in 2011 should not be hailed as a success by any measure.

For Khaled to claim "success" at a 50% graduate employment rate within six months of graduation, the resounding question is: What exactly is the KPI that has been set for our Higher Education Minister? If 50% employment for the graduate population means that Khaled has achieved his KPI, there is a dire need for a review of this KPI.

With such low expectations set on our Higher Education Ministry, it is unsurprising that our universities are not globally competitive and our graduates not being equipped with a stronger skill set. The bar needs to be set higher, with at least a 90% graduate employment rate within 6 months of graduation.

* Rajiv Rishyakaran, DAP USJ-Subang Jaya Branch Chairman