In the early 2000's Malaysia opened up its education sector to international students especially African students.Universities and colleges launched aggressive marketing strategies to tap into middle class families in countries like Kenya,Botswana and Nigeria.The response was enormous.African student population skyrocketed in 2006,2007.Government sponsored students from Botswana came in hundreds every year,and soon also government sponsored Nigerian students were being admitted in Universities all over Malaysia.
Malaysia is reaping big from direct investment from the huge African student population in the country.Which is estimated to be well over 4000.Malaysia is attractive to international students mainly because of affordable higher quality education.The relaxed Visa laws(as compared to US or UK), make it a rising attraction to African students.Cheaper tuition fees and living expenses are also pulling factors.
But it seems colleges all across Malaysia are changing their attitudes towards admission of Nigeria students.Fewer and fewer Nigerian students are being admitted to colleges in Malaysia.In some cases some colleges are not admitting Nigerian students.
An official from one of the private universities in Malaysia(who refused to be named for job-security reasons),told me that his college is no longer admitting Nigerian students since last year.He cited indisciplne,low completion rates and security issues as the main reasons.He went as far as to say that the Malaysian government has directed a thorough vetting of all Nigerian students who seek to study in malaysia.He claimed that the colleges were even given figures of how many nigerian students they should admit,and the main point was to keep them at a minimal.
This is indeed a worrying trend.It is sad that many genuine Nigerian students who want to seek an education in Malaysia will not get the chance.In colleges like Nilai Internatinal University,INTI university and UCSI,the number of new Nigerian intakes have fallen to new lows,With some not admitting Nigerian students at all.Infact a university in Cheras near Kuala Lumpur is said to have sent over 150 Nigerians back home after a discplinary issue.
The perception among african students is that Nigerian students are an unwelcome lot in Malaysia.It would be inorder for the malaysian government to state its stand on the issue,so that it can be clear what is the future of many bright Nigerian students who wish to explore further studies in malaysia.
Monday, April 6, 2009
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Its sad.We should not victimize the good people because of actions of a few.
You write, "He cited indisciplne [which you misspell],low completion rates and security issues as the main reasons."
Two questions: Can Malaysia prove that these problems apply only to Nigerians? Second, why does it concern you (as a Kenyan) that Nigerians are being shut out of Malaysian colleges?
HNG: Thank you for your response.As to your first question,I certainly do not think that the above problems apply only to Nigerians,but it seems the mentioned colleges and the Malaysian government seems to think so.Although the same(if not worse) could be said of some Botswana students.
Second question:I have many Nigerian friends who feel the Malaysian government has taken a radical new policy of admitting as few and possibly in the future,not admitting any new Nigerian students.I am concerned because as an African i sympathize with my Nigerian colleagues whose Sisters or brothers have been denied entry into Malaysia simply due to the "sins" of others.
And therefore that is why I am hoping the Malaysian education ministry can declare its stand/policy on Nigerians seeking education opportunities in Malaysia.
As you say it's a case of guilt by association. And I do agree. But the reality is that the universities do have just cause to reduce their Nigerian intake.
If you live in Malaysia (I'm assuming that you do due to the nature of your post) then you have probably noticed that the Nigerian community has accrued a less than stellar reputation. Not only among universities but among landlords, in restaurants, cabs and so forth. I just think it has gotten to the point where universities are tired of cleaning up their messes which range from visa scandal to fraud and everything in between.
Now as unfair as it is (I know a lot of upstanding Nigerians personally) you really can't blame these institutions. I think the country needs to thoroughly upgrade it's vetting process before sending out it's students otherwise a whole lot of the riffraff tend to be sent along with the genuine students.
As for Botswana students, you're right, some are even worse, but the Botswanan government has already started taking the initiative of sending back those students who have failed to reach the bar in terms of grades and conduct.
But then again, all this is just in my very humble opinion.
LOCO: I do agree with you.And i think the Nigerian government should do a thorough vetting of its students before sending them to abroad for further studies.
Thank you again,for your input.
i am a malaysian and let me tell u... the nigerians are nothing but CONMEN.
It's now really really bad. these people have no income and they resort to A LIFE OF CRIME.
GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY!!!!
check this out:-
http://malaysiacrimewatch.lokety.com/nigerians-caught-for-fake-digi-job-vacancies/
Nigerian woman jailed over scam
Wed, Mar 25, 2009, New Straits Times.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A man’s wise move to inform the police before meeting a Nigerian woman saved him from falling prey to her scheming.
A week earlier, Buang Md Sayuti, 42, an administrative assistant, received an email saying that he had won US$1 million ($1.5million) in a lucky draw allegedly organised by Microsoft in conjunction with the company’s anniversary celebration in London.
Buang responded to the email and provided his personal information as required.
The following day, on Aug 20 last year, he received another email telling him that he would have to pay processing fees and someone would come to his house with his prize money.
Five days later, he received a call from a woman who claimed her name was Sophia Young. She said he must meet her and pay US$2,750 ($4146) as a fee to release the money from the ‘United Kingdom High Commission’ warehouse.
Buang said he needed three days to pay the fees. Later, the woman sent him an email telling him to bring a copy of his identity card and the email which told him that he won the prize and the fees.
On Aug 27, Buang called Sophia saying that he would meet her at Kuala Lumpur City Centre and pay the fees. He also called the police to inform them about the meeting.
At KLCC, Sophia asked Buang for the fees and documents she had told him to bring. A while later, police arrived and arrested her.
Yesterday, the woman, whose real name is Peace Okotie, 26, a college student, was sentenced to 15 months’ jail after she pleaded guilty of attempting to deceive Buang into believing that she could give him the prize money and inducing him to pay her US$2,750.
She committed the offence at KLCC at 2.45pm on Aug 27, last year.
Magistrate Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin also sentenced her to four months’ jail for overstaying.
Earlier in mitigation, counsel B. Renuka pleaded for leniency as the accused came from a poor family.
Deputy public prosecutor Azimul Azami Mohd Nor submitted that as a college student, Okotie should be aware of the consequences of her actions.
source: Nigerian woman jailed
And who said what a man can do, a woman can’t do? Unfortunately students have joined the 419 village. Its unfortunate. Worse, her name is Peace.
with all the comment i have read so far,nigerians are spoiling others success that is to be achieved geniuelly through hardwork in malaysia.however proper scrutiny is the answer to curb this menace.genuine and matured student should be admitted instead of saying there should be no admission for nigerians.also, life should be made easier for them not tougher.what are the measures the police and government are taking to secure the lives of nigerians living there? gbenga ogunyemi from nigeria
Humans out there, before i placed my comment i have read through many comments on the issue of throwing Nigerians away and Not throwing them away. Well am presently studying in Malaysia in one of its reputable college. I i don’t quite agree with the idea of throwing away "Nigerians" for a crime a Nigerian committed, Malaysian have valid laws that meet to the demand of all crime, why not those laws prevail. If Nigerians are problem the way it seems from all what has been read, why not Malaysia solve the problem instead of running away from it. Or don’t my Malaysian brothers and sisters out there think it will mean Government (incapability) Crime is every where, even in advance countries like Britain, USA, etc. I will beg the Malaysians to learn more to be exposed in life, at least listen to world news, watch not only local channels, so as to be better informed about what is going on around the globe.
Thus i don’t think Crime is Nigerian, Nigerian is an independent country with people in it and the people have culture and various ways of life in that Nigeria, just as many heterogeneous society in which Malaysia is not an exception. So if for example Fredrick is a criminal(let it be labeled that Fredrick is a criminal a Nigerian and Not Nigerians are criminals) please lets learn to speak well Thank you all.
I would also suggest that any one who falls for scam, who is not set as a bait to catch scammers who operate via emails and phones announcing “winner” or anything close to, that has been substantiated should face same purnishment, if not more of that of the scammer.Why? Example. Am Fredrick, i never applied for visa to go to America and some how i get email stating(WOw! congratulations Fredrick you have just won a visa to America, Your email address Came first in our draw or whatever, You need to give ur details and pay this and do that..blar blar blar) if i continue in positive response to such a scam, then am a criminal myself.True or Not? because i know well that i never even applied for American visa. Or some one some how, mail to tell me about a huge money of a dead person in a bank in a country, that my assistance is needed to clear the money, by providing my details, including account details so that the money can be transferred into my account and later we share the money amongst our self. common brothers and sisters, if i respond positively to that crap, is it not what is called aiding crime, so am i not a criminal? Why then should i shout and make noise if it turns out that i was being scammed at the end of the day. I mean, money that is not mine, some one that i dont know. Does it realy fit
Well its a sad thing that people now look for whom to blame for their own irresponsibility.
A friend of mine was murdered on the 27th of September, 2009 in Malaysia. He was a Postgraduate student in that country. never committed any crime to be a target of such inhumanity. this is sad for us considering that in my own country. Malaysians, Chinese, Indians etc live do their business without any one going after their lives. By these acts, the Malaysians re sending a message that their investments and citizens in my Country Nigeria should b targeted with these same treatment.
wish them best of luck.
A.U.E sent......
Hey, Mr. Anonymous... I believe you have every right to every comment you feel like making but let me remind you that in every dispensation there are corrupt people so when dropping your comment, please do well to note that you are referring to 'some nigerians' not 'all nigerians'. We know the predicament of our country and soon, i mean very soon, the image of our country will be totally wiped clean by my generation. I AM NIGERIAN AND I'M PROUD TO BE NIGERIAN. I WILL DEDICATE MY BEING TO SEE THAT IT HAPPENS. SO MY GOOD FRIENDS SIT TIGHT AND SEE THE 'SLEEPING GIANT OF AFRICA' RISE AGAIN
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