Educationists in Penang have mixed feelings about the departure of Maszlee Malik from the Ministry of Education yesterday, but most agree that the Ministry of Education has a daunting task ahead to educate the nation in the new millennia.

Former don and political economist Shankaran Nambiar said the ministry has tremendous challenges ahead of it, adding that there are at least three functions that the ministry must serve.

"First, education can be an instrument for bringing about national unity...