KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry is mulling over the idea of a gap year programme to create more holistic university students.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said students could use the year off to become entrepreneurs, volunteers or travel.

“Students can have a gap (year) as a break and they can always come back after that to continue their studies,” he told reporters after the winding up session at the 2016 Undergraduates Parliamentary session at Parliament here yesterday.

There were 210 students from 26 higher learning institutions at this year’s Student Parliament session.

He said this applies to students in public higher learning institutions, and argued that the gap year will not drain university resources even though they will be “disassociated” from the university.

“We embarked on this study as we want holistic students, regardless of their fields, who are prepared for the job market,” said Idris, who revealed that it was the students themselves who broached the subject of having a gap year in order to make themselves more employable.

On another matter, Idris said youths were welcome to express “balanced views” on politics and the government, and advised all tertiary level students to register as voters.

He was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement that the government should not punish students who hold “differing views”.

“However, don’t criticise just for the sake of criticism,” said Idris.-thestar