THE Star Online (@staronline), tweeted a news story with the headline “Local grads not up to mark” earlier this week. The news article quoted a bunch of experts who gave their thoughts on the quality of #LocalGrads. Here are the key points of the story:

l Six out of 10 graduates from Malaysian universities take as long as six months to find a job.

l Universities are churning out graduates who don’t have the right skills for the workforce.

l Employers find many of them lacking critical thinking and communication skills, despite fine academic qualifications.

l Many of them are hampered by a lack of proficiency in English.

After reading a story like that, we just had to open it up to our Tweeps to have their say. It proved to be a pretty hot topic, too, with the story topping the “Most Viewed” list on thestar.com.my during the impromptu #RAGEchat.

So what did you guys think about the story?

>> “Don’t just blame the students for it! The education system is equally responsible.”

@tcchip: Many lecturers are just following the teaching guide. For some of them, it’s just a job, not a calling

@syzulqahar: It should start from the teachers. If the teacher is not enthusiastic enough, how can the students be encouraged?

@joonsunn: More like syllabus not matching with industry needs. Unis dun wan to revise teaching materials.

>> August Man managing editor @RubinKhoo and @chocoballnoona kindly chipped in with their two sen.

In response to @joonsunn’s tweet on the problem with syllabi, @chocoballnoona said: “not necessarily coz it’s up 2 the teachers’ creativity on how 2 go about the lesson plan”.

Meanwhile, @RubinKhoo concurred later in the discussion, saying: “(Lecturers) need to stick to the syllabus but teach in a way that allow students to relate to the subject matter.

“You hv to remember that students need to play their part too…”

>> “Our education system focuses too much on academics – students need to be encouraged to voice their opinions.”

@yanyinlim: local edu system don’t train students to voice opinions or discuss. Everything is all “teacher lectures, student listens”

@carmensakura07: Even at college, students don’t speak up even though they hv great ideas bcuz we hv been trained to keep quiet.

@AcahMadinah: Big difference between achieving brilliant results & having social + communication skills. Alas, loads of students lack that.

@tcchip: Students need to be able to think for themselves & not memorize & regurgitate. Students can memorize all & still know nothing.

However,

@tcchip also believes there are many empty vessels out there these days who are all talk, no action: “Comms & social skills can also be overrated. A lot of employees talk well, but can’t deliver.”

>> “Malaysian students often lack the critical thinking and communication skills of their overseas counterparts.”

@yanyinlim: Students from the local edu system who go overseas to study or work get a big cultural shock in an opinionated crowd

@gabeygoh: Saw it happen many times during Uni, due to intl students just sticking with fellow countrymen all the time

>> “With some patience and more opportunities to speak up, the quality of #LocalGrads in Malaysia can be improved.”

@tiffanykhoo: (A possible solution is) debates! Everywhere! (…) It’s the lack of opportunities. Schools send ONE debate team, or they only compete in 1 comp

@PepperAndEggs: Encourage teachers to have more group presentations & discussions in class. At least students will talk more that way.

@carmensakura07: lecturers need to be patient in providing a platform bcuz students will take a long time to react (to being taught to speak up).