TVET programmes must match industry needs

PETALING JAYA: Students must not simply be trained at the vocational level simply for the sake of providing them with a skill, said Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Empowerment Committee chairman Nurul Izzah Anwar.
She said the TVET training programme must meet the needs of the industry, therefore all stakeholders, training institutions and government agencies must consult the private sector on their needs.
"We need to know the demands and requirements of the private sector and tailor our programmes to meet those needs," she told theSun.
She said close to 27,000 students from low-income families are dependent on TVET but they must be trained in the proper skills to ensure they can earn a good salary.
She said not only must they repay the loans they have but their families too are dependent on lifting them out of poverty.
Nurul had earlier in her parliament speech said she had raised the issue on the failure to release the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) loans to needy students.
She said in 2017, PTPK had given out loans amounting to RM170 million but the government did not want to burden these students with debts even before they can start their working life.
She said these students come from low-income families and this loan is the only means for them to get some kind of higher education.
"We cannot afford any more delays as the fate of tens of thousands of students are dependent on the release of the loans to various institutions nationwide," she said, adding that loans should not be given out for the sake of giving loans.
She said PTPK funding has consistently been RM300 million up to when it was cut two years back.
Nurul said the fear of undeserving institutions should be addressed by ensuring tested mechanism are put in place as per the Department of Skill Development (JPK) five star ratings for different institutions.
She added that almost 30,000 students are left stranded in vocational colleges for failing to meet the standards set out by JPK and there must be an urgent response to address their plight.
She said the type of training provide by TVET institutions also needs to be addressed as many of them are providing training related to the service industry.
She said institutions cannot simply churn out 'graduates' for a certain sector such as the service industry, they need to talk to the private sector and ask them for help.
"Only doing so can the training institutions begin to understand the needs of the industry and cater to these requirements," Nurul added.