Parents, students free to determine direction after SPM, says Idris Jusoh

KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry will continue to give parents and students the choice to determine their direction in education after their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, said it did not intend to compel SPM school leavers who failed to pursue higher studies to enrol in institutions which offer Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
However, he said, they can continue studies in TVET through 34 polytechnics and 94 community colleges nationwide and in other institutions which offer the programme.
"The government will continue to empower and mainstream TVET and raise awareness among students and parents to make it a top choice for SPM school leavers who are not keen on academic," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Bumiputera Education Tour Main Committee chairman Tan Sri Prof Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar had urged the government to compel SPM school leavers who did not continue their studies in academic to take up TVET.
While not disagreeing with Sahol Hamid, Idris said it is neccessary to give the parents and students a choice, as some students may not do well in SPM examination but do very well when in university," he said. —Bernama