Government scheme to ensure efficient use of university funds

Higher Education Minister Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh yesterday announced that five percent of the total funding for public universities will be reserved to ensure proper use of funds starting next year.

It was announced that this formula would be based on each university's key performance index (KPI), which would include extra competency, productivity, performance and success.

The reserved fund would comprise input-based funding (three per cent) and performance-based funding (two per cent), as decided at the first Putrajaya Higher Education Task Force (PHETF) meeting on Wednesday.

The minister said that the government previously funded 100 percent of the tuition fees as well as funds for other income and development. This may not however translate to efficient use of the funds, and may result in the public universities being overly dependent on government funding.