For a country that aspires to be a developed nation by 2020, that has repeatedly stressed on the need for cutting edge human resources, the signs around us are rather worrying.

Corporations lament the lack of talent who are also equipped with adequate language and critical thinking skills that meet international standards.

An embarrassingly large number of local university graduates are jobless, largely because they are unemployable, which speaks volumes of the education system.

To be fair, not all local graduates are found wanting and many of the nation's best brains have had their training in local institutions.

However, the numbers still show that the majority of the unemployable graduates hailed from local institutions.

As the authorities strive to address the problem by improving the quality of local institutions and training facilities, another area that must be tackled is the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971.

The legislation, enacted in the aftermath of student demonstrations in the 1960s and 1970s in the hopes of curbing such dissident activities, has taken a toll on the quality of thinking churned out by out public universities.

The Act prohibits students in local education institutions from participating in activities linked to trade unions, political parties and other organisations that are not approved by the authorities.

Critical thinking and the freedom to explore different ideas as well as to engage in "dialogic" discussions form a fundamental part of the learning process. But how can students truly grasp profound and current socio-political discourses if they are only permitted to examine the theories?

How can they be inspired to be aware of their constitutional rights to freedom of association and speech if the have no space to explore and exercise these in and outside of campus?

The Act essentially stifles independent and critical thinking, the effects of which run deep in the generations of graduates who end up becoming mediocre performers with little drive.

It is therefore a welcome openness on the part of the government when Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said recently that some provisions in the UUCA may be amended to allow students to participate in political parties and youth organisations outside of campus.

Whatever the government's motive may be in considering this, it must have the farsightedness to ensure that the amendments to, and ideally the repeal of, the Act would truly provide space to encourage students to think, and act.