Minister says improving women’s education levels reflects Malaysia’s growing economic growth

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Higher education levels among Malaysian women are having a positive impact on the country’s economic growth, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad.

The reason is that women play an important role in both the socio-economic welfare of the family and the development of the country, she added.

MP Parit Selong said that in 2021, about 20.6% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were owned by women, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contributed about RM70 billion to Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP). It said it provided about 800,000 jobs worth RM11.1 billion.

“Research by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that improvements in women’s education have boosted economic growth rates in OECD countries by nearly 50 percent over the past 50 years,” Noraini said. .

Wanita Umno leader said women also played a big role in making Malaysia a center of international education, adding that last year there were more women working and studying in public institutions than men.

“In 2021, the number of male employees at public higher education institutions was 43.2%, but the number of female employees was 56.8%, which was higher.These educational institutions also accepted many female students, with an occupancy rate of 61%. %.

“Furthermore, of the more than 15,000 Ministry of Higher Education employees, almost 60 per cent are women. Based on these numbers, I expect Malaysian women to make great achievements in the near future,” she said. said.

Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad said the ministry was working towards empowering women parliamentarians and promoting diversity in the country.

Ms. Noraini is currently attending the 65th Congressional Conference (CPC) hosted by the Congressional Association (CPA) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where she hopes to empower women in parliament, promote diversity and He shared that he has stepped up efforts to promote intersectionality. In Malaysia.

It said that during the same meeting, a proposal was submitted by the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentary Federation (CWP) during the CPA Executive Committee meeting to increase the participation of women to the same level as the CPA’s non-members or at least 33 per cent.

Noraini said the CWP’s proposals will ensure that voices, opinions and issues relating to women are prioritized.

“In this context, I also shared my efforts to empower women parliamentarians and support initiatives that promote diversity and intersectionality.In our country, out of 222 Dewan Rakyat MPs, women are Only 33, or 14.9 percent.”

“This number is small compared to Malaysia’s female population, which accounts for almost half of the country’s 32.5 million people, or 47.7 people,” it added.