When the time comes to send the kids to college, some Asian parents may do their budget in Malaysian money. Malaysia wants to become a regional center for higher education. “We’re introducing a bill in October to allow the University of London and other well-known foreign universities to come in and establish full-scale branch  campuses,” says Fong Chan Onn, the deputy minister with responsibility for Chinese education. The University of London will be opening a branch near Kuala Lumpur. Fong says Australian institutions have expressed interest. “Even one of the Japanese universities is interested,” he adds
        Malaysia hopes the imports will solve several problems. Local universities have limited places and many are reserved for Malays and other native groups. Ethnic Chinese and Indians often have no choice but to study overseas--or not go to university at all. “The country has been spending billions on the thousands of students who go abroad for their higher education.” say Penang state assemblyman Kang Chin Seng. “The figure is almost equal to all the revenue we earn from tin mines.” The government itself sends scholars to other countries, says Kang: “Many could be placed in the foreign campuses here, saving government funds.”
          As an education center, Malaysia can even make money, “The slogan is that one foreign student studying in Malaysia is worth 4x365 tourist days,” says Fong. Kuala Lumpur is eyeing students from ASEAN countries, and perhaps Hong Kong, where it is difficult to be admitted into local universities. Will foreign students come knocking? Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says Malaysia will be offering “quality education at reduced cost.” As for the local institutions, Fong believes they will rise to the challenge. Malaysia will know it has become a regional center for education when its homegrown schools can rival foreign universities as centers of excellence.

Line



5




10




15




20

1. What must be done before foreign universities can open branch campuses in Malaysia?
   1. A law allowing them to do so must be passed.
   2. Education fees must be the same in all universities.
   3. there must be enough applications from foreign students.
   4. Malaysian scholars must finish their education overseas.
2. The word “imports” (line 8) refers to
   1. ASEAN students
   2. Chinese students
   3. Malaysian scholars
   4. foreign campuses
3. Why do some Chinese and Indian students have to study abroad?
   1. Because they can’t get into local universities.
   2. Because local universities are not good enough.
   3. Because they get scholarships to study abroad.
   4. Because they want to learn about foreign culture.
4. The word “revenue” (line 12) means
   1. taxes
   2. money
   3. costs
   4. budget
5. The word “many” (line 13) refers to
   1. funds
   2. countries
   3. scholars
   4. tin mines

6. What does Kang suggest that Malaysia do with Malaysian students who have won scholarships?
   1. Send them to study in homegrown universities.
   2. Make them pay back the scholarships.
   3. Allow them to study in foreign universities.
   4. Have them study in foreign campuses in Malaysia.
7. “As an education center, Malaysia can even make money, “
   What does this imply most about education centers?
   1. They save a lot of money.
   2. They want to educated foreign students.
   3. They take only Malay students.
   4. They are not expected to make money.
8. When Fong says “..one foreign student is worth 4x365 tourist days” (line 15-16) he means that a foreign student
   1. lives like a tourist
   2. brings in  365 tourists
   3. spends money for four years
   4. uses more money than a tourist
9. Students from ASEAN countries are expected to study in Malaysia because
   1. they will be near their parents
   2. education there will be good and affordable
   3. all of the subjects will be taught in Chinese
   4. the educational quality will be as good as the University of London
10. What is the best title for this passage?
    1. Malaysian International Schools
    2. Malaysian Education Opportunities
    3. Malaysia’s Plan for Educational Excellence
    4. Malaysian Education vs Chinese Education

Acescores Online

Last updated: Aug 13, 2001