Category Archives: TVET & Vocational Training – Malaysian News

FMM supports establishment of TVET special commission

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Datuk Soh Thian Lai

LUMPUR: The setting up of a special commission on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) will rationalise and optimise funding and resources to minimise duplication of programmes among TVET institutions.

Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) President Datuk Soh Thian Lai said the federation supported the formation of a single agency to coordinate the implementation of TVET in country and the TVET Empowerment Committee’s recommendation was an appropriate decision.

He said the government should expedite the establishment of the special commission to address fragmentation of TVET implementation, which currently cuts across seven ministries.

“The single champion agency should ensure standardisation of training and qualifications, quality assurance, qualification portability, recognition of prior learning, and greater cost effectiveness in the use of resources

“The funding of TVET institutions must be based on performance and aligned to market demand to mandate collaboration with the industry,” Soh said in a statement today.

The FMM president said it was also necessary to upskill and reskill the current workforce, and reinforce lifelong learning to continually acquire new and emerging skills required by new technologies such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“TVET training institutions need to be able to offer upskilling and reskilling programmes in order to produce highly-skilled and digital-proficient workers to support the industrial transformation of the economy,” he said.

Loh said the commission should also uplift the status of TVET graduates as skilled craftsmen and promote TVET as a viable education and career of choice to students and parents.

“TVET should be introduced into the school curriculum as early as the primary level to nurture interest and uplift the status of technical and vocational qualifications as vital in strengthening the supply of skills and ensuring a competent workforce,” he added.

Source: Bernama

Parents should consider enrolling children in TVET due to continuous growth for engineering jobs

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SPAOH: With the continuous growth for engineering employment in Sarawak over the next few years, parents should consider sending their children for technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said it was much easier for those with technical education and training to enter the job markets compared to others, with 500,000 post vacancies in technical and vocational fields were expected in the coming years. “About 97 per cent of community college students in the state were quickly absorbed into the job market upon their graduation,” he said. He said meanwhile, many university students particularly those from open universities remained jobless even years after their graduation because the jobs for their qualifications were not in-demand. He was speaking at the annual “Appreciation and Excellance Awards Day” of the SMK Spaoh here on Saturday. Uggah who is the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development said modern commercial-based agriculture was another field worth going into. “Modern agriculture is no longer land or labour intensive as technology is largely used. “For instance, systems like fertilisation and hydroponics which are precision farming, that does not require large hectares. They are technology driven for farm management and maintenance, resulting in superior quality and quantity and of course income,” he said. These were among the things that the government wanted and planned to promote among the new generation, he added. On another matter, he said parents in the rural areas were encouraged to let their children stayed at the boarding schools which offered more conducive learning environment, free meals while the children were taught proper value of discipline. “They will also have teachers to consult on their weak subjects, which is more convenient and could help them to study better,” he said.

The minister also announced grants totalling RM169,500 for repair, improvement and maintenance of various facilities for the school.

Source: www.nst.com.my

Nurul Izzah calls for TVET commission

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PUTRAJAYA: The TVET task force headed by Nurul Izzah Anwar (pic) has suggested that a special commission to coordinate the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) implementation be set up.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said it was suggested that the implementation under the commission be overseen by two ministries, Education and Human Resources, during a recent Cabinet meeting.

“It was an idea by Nurul Izzah to table a motion in Parliament for the establishment of a TVET commission.

“It expresses our seriousness to enhance TVET and bring it to the next level.

“She’s in the process of lobbying all ministers and MPs to support this idea.

“I hope we will make it a reality,” Dr Maszlee told reporters after attending a national industry dialogue titled “Living Skills in the 21st Century: TVET Empowerment/Initiative” yesterday.

Nurul Izzah chairs a task force to strengthen and improve TVET.

Currently, seven ministries are overlooking TVET.

A coordination committee has been approved by the Cabinet, he said, to coordinate TVET activities between the ministries.

On the duties of the task force headed by Nurul Izzah, Dr Maszlee said it is tasked to conduct research across all ministries that provide TVET education and training.

“The role of (her) committee is to make recommendations on how our TVET system can be improved.

“This includes a review of our current laws in TVET education and training, as well as the idea for a TVET commission,” he added.

Dr Maszlee said TVET was given emphasis during the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) 2016-2020 and the tabling of Budget 2019.

This is the way forward, he said, emphasising that collaboration between the Education Ministry and industry showed “we are on the right track”.

The government also plans to conduct a major mapping exercise to ensure TVET programmes meet industry standards set by professional accreditation bodies, he added.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my

Mapping for TVET to meet industry, professional standards

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TVET mapping - Dr Maszlee
PUTRAJAYA: The government plans to conduct a major TVET mapping exercise, that is  Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes mapped to enable it to meet the industry standards and standards set by professional accreditation bodies.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the TVET mapping exercise would ensure that the graduates could “hit the workplace running”.

“TVET is the ministry’s key priority as it plays a major role in the development of a highly-skilled workforce and the government will continuously strive to provide education and training that is in line with global industry standards.

“All of this is to ensure that young Malaysians from all walks of life find employment in fulfilling jobs and that they are competitive in the global job market,” he said in his speech at the National Industry Dialogue 2018, Living Skills in the 21st Century: TVET Empowerment, here, today.

Maszlee also said that the government’s goal was to ensure that technical and vocational schools would be at par with other streams so that they were a primary choice amongst students.

He said the TVET committee led by Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament, Nurul Izzah Anwar would conduct research across all six ministries that provide TVET education and training and make recommendations on how to improve Malaysia’s TVET system.

“This includes a review of our current laws in TVET education and training as well as the idea of setting up a TVET Commission,” he added. — Bernama

Comment (2022): Almost 4 years down the road, there has not been much progress on the aspirations of the previous Education Minister, Dr Maszlee Malik as there has been a change of government and Minister of Education since 10 March 2020. Also, with the abrupt resignation of Nurul Izzah who headed the TVET committee not long after her appointment, things have not moved much since then. 

It is hoped that there would be truly someone capable that can push forward the TVET agenda again (perhaps after GE15? is it wishful thinking???)

Budget focus of Human Resources Ministry on TVET

TVET & Vocational Training - Malaysian News,

Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran.

IPOH: The focus of the Human Resources Ministry’s budget will be on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to meet the demands for future human capital.

“We need to empower institutions at this crucial stage to produce the future workforce,” its minister M. Kulasegaran said after attending a meeting with NGOs, Tamil School activitists, PTA and school representatives, here today.

“I am specifically pleased that the budget included the concern for developing future jobs as part of the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as the world moves towards automation and demands for a highly skilled work force.

“Without a doubt we need to embrace technology and automation if we want to remain competitive and the 2019 Budget will be address these issues.”

Kulasegaran also welcomed the double tax deduction for private sector companies that support the development of human capital, especially through TVET.

“The ministry will collaborate with the private sector to ensure senior citizens who want to work following the inclusion of new tax incentives to hire them,” he said.

“It is a relief to the B40 groups as the government will continue and improve the living assistance to them by providing more targeted assistance.

“Through the Human Resources Development Fund, the government will implement apprenticeship and graduate enhancement programme for employability.”

Kulasegaran said this is meant to provide skills to school-leavers and to increase the marketability of graduates.

http://www.thesundaily.my

Vocational training needs one authority, says minister

TVET & Vocational Training - Malaysian News,

KAJANG: A single authority is needed to oversee the coordination of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, said Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Nurul Izzah, who is Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) task force chairman, said she proposed for a TVET commission to be set up in Parlia­ment and for the Department of Skills Development (DSD) to be more empowered.

This is to ensure that DSD can compel any TVET institution under any ministry to meet the stipulated requirements or face closure.

“If you don’t have a single authority or regulatory body, you will never get anywhere,” she said at the Empowering Women Summit 2018 at Universiti Tenaga Nasional here yesterday.

This comes after reports that the TVET landscape was fragmented, with programmes offered by agencies under different ministries, state skills development centres and private institutions.

She said there was also a need to standardise qualifications of TVET graduates.

“We even have two different bodies (of certification), the Malaysian Qualifications Agency for academic qualifications and DSD for TVET graduates.”

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my

Education Ministry welcomes private sector’s involvement in producing skilled workforce

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Education Minister Maszlee Malik speaks during a press conference at the Ministry of Higher Education in Putrajaya June 7, 2018. — Picture by Mukhriz Hazim
Education Minister Maszlee Malik speaks during a press conference at the Ministry of Higher Education in Putrajaya June 7, 2018. — Picture by Mukhriz Hazim

ALOR SETAR, Oct 28 — The Ministry of Education (MOE) is now more open to listen to the demand and needs from the industry players to improve the quality of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system.

Ministry’s technical and vocational education division principal assistant director Suraimi Rithwan said such move would enable the TVET education system to be strengthened as well as to increase the level of employment of technical and vocational students.

“We have been collaborating with 750 industry partners since 2015 and as a result, more than 90 per cent of TVET students, such as from the vocational colleges gained employment with the salary range between RM2,000 and RM15,000 per month.

“This is the result of our partnership with the industry players where we know what kind of skills that they need and our involvement with the private sector will be expanded from time to time,” he told Bernama today.

He said this after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Alor Setar Vocational College and seven electronic and mechanical engineering companies.

In the same event, the Alor Setar Vocational College also signed Note of Understanding (MoU) with the Insitut Kemahiran Tinggi Belia Negara (IKTBN) Bukit Mertajam and Insitut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) Jitra.

Among the efforts to be implemented under the collaborations include to upgrade the workshops or manufacturing laboratories and to equip the college with high-tech equipment as well as to carry out industrial training.

Source: Bernama

‘Private TVET providers need at least RM1b funding per year’

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KUALA LUMPUR: Private Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers will need an allocation of at least RM1 billion a year for the next five years from the federal budget in order to support a total of 60,000 students, according to the Federation of JPK Accredited Centers Malaysia (FeMAC).

The amount is more than five times this year’s allocation of RM180 million to TVET providers.

FeMAC president P Sailanathan said the group has engaged and presented the figures to TVET task force chairman Nurul Izzah Anwar, who had said she would raise the issue in Parliament.

According to the federation, TVET providers are facing funding crunch. FeMAC alleges the TVET providers have yet to receive up to RM20 million of the total allocated funds since January this year.

“Only a selected few of us (private TVET providers) have received funding [but] a lot more were denied,” Sailanathan told the media yesterday.

So far, the Department of Skills Development and the Skills Development Fund Corp (PTPK) have been “pointing fingers at each other”, without having yet come to a positive outcome on when the remaining funds can be distributed, he added.

Although Minister of Human Resources M Kulasegaran recently said that his ministry has secured an additional RM140 million in funding from the finance ministry for TVET students and providers, the minister has so far not given a timeline for the disbursement, nor has it engaged with FeMAC on the matter.

“We are willing to cooperate, but there is no direction from the ministry. We are neither here nor there,” Sailanathan said, adding that many providers are on the verge of ceasing operations as the students are considering dropping out due to a lack of financial support and they can no longer afford to pay teachers.

To make matters worse, the students may often end up with a minimum of three overlapping loans as they are required to take a new loan for every level of vocational training, which usually amounts to four levels for a diploma.

Kulasegaran has proposed a fixed monthly repayment of RM100 for these students, but details are lacking on implementation.

Considering as many as 90% of TVET graduates find jobs within a year after completing their courses, Sailanathan does not foresee a major problem of them not repaying loans.

Currently, between 60,000 and 80,000 TVET students attend private TVET colleges, which are equivalent to about 13.3% to 17.8% of total tertiary-level students in Malaysia, according to data presented by FeMAC.

A total of about 45% of tertiary-level students in Malaysia are studying for TVET qualifications, compared to 55% at universities.

FeMAC, which represents about 350 private TVET providers out of 636 in total, has called for PTPK to be modelled after National Higher Education Fund Corp, with an abolishment of the current quota system.

Source: http://www.theedgemarkets.com

Comment: I hope TVET task force chairman Nurul Izzah Anwar could set up a body for check & balance, to monitor the disbursements of the loan. Before this, my understanding is that those providers that are acting as AJK in FeMAC are getting priorities/more funding compared to other ordinary members. Some projects that were awarded to FeMAC mainly benefitted the AJK members. There has been complaints from ordinary members, citing that they didn’t get anything at all as ordinary members.
Disclaimer: Admin is not part of FeMAC, only reporting based on what the TVET providers feedbacked to admin.

Hong Leong Foundation’s skills development programme benefits 16 young Malaysians

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Pic-1_HLF-equips-young-Malaysians-with-vocational-qualifications_w


Hong Leong Group’s charitable arm, the Hong Leong Foundation, yesterday announced that all 16 young Malaysians sponsored and funded by its skills development programme have graduated with a level 1 skills diploma in mechatronics studies.

According to a media release, the graduates, aged 18 years old and above, were given the opportunity by the foundation to pursue the said Malaysian Meister Programme in mechatronics studies at the Penang Skills Development Centre for 28 months.

The programme is recognised by the Malaysian Department of Skills Development and accredited by the Malaysia-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The scholarship offered by the foundation included course fee, room and boarding, and access to on-the-job training placements.

In addition, the 16 students gained work experience at participating Hong Leong Manufacturing Group of Companies which include Southern Steel, Dynacraft Industries and Carsem.

Quek Sue Yian, executive director of the Hong Leong Foundation said: “I am pleased to note that all 16 students graduated from the programme. Nine of them are employed within the Hong Leong Group while six have gone on to pursue advanced diploma studies in mechatronics.”

She noted that the foundation recognises the need to help young people who may not have the opportunities to acquire the right knowledge and skills set for work.

“Through this programme, we hope to give these young talents a stepping stone towards being competitively employable with the relevant skills.

The Hong Leong Foundation’s skills development programme aims to provide financial aid and enrichment support to young Malaysians to equip them with vocational qualifications and skills-based studies so that they can be employable.

Source: https://www.humanresourcesonline.net

Malaysia facing shortage of motorcycle mechanics

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By SHAHEERA AZNAM SHAH / Pic By ISMAIL CHE RUS

The motorcycle industry in the country is facing a shortage of highly-skilled technicians who are capable to operate the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) technology.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn Bhd MD Datuk Jim Khor said motorcycle manufacturers are giving priority to technicians with skills beyond the common industry requirements.

“The motorcycle industry still lacks competent technicians, not just in Selangor, but throughout Malaysia.

“The industry is no longer seeking ordinary skills such as fixing or assembling a motorcycle, but also the skills to operate Industry 4.0 technology,” he said at the launch of the company’s Technician Apprenticeship Programme (TAP) in Shah Alam yesterday.

As such, Khor said Yamaha Motor has collaborated with INPENS International College to address the issue, and initiate an effective technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programme.

“The TAP programme will prepare the students with the new technologies and systems, as well as teach them how to incorporate the technologies into workshops and assembly factories,” he said.

Khor added that the programme would require six months of industrial training at Yamaha Motor’s branches across the country before the students could seek job opportunities elsewhere.

“The first batch that we took in September last year comprised eight students from INPENS. We will add another batch every six months.

“It will also depend on INPENS if they can provide excellent students who are qualified for this programme,” he said.

INPENS CEO Ahmad Zabri Mohd Yaman said the country needs talents with balanced academic and industrial skills to achieve a developed nation status.

“Initially, our institution has focused on students who are a little behind in their education — and at the same time, helping quality students who are interested in the TVET (sector).

“As for the first batch, we had provided Yamaha Motor with eight students. Moving forward, we expect to provide a maximum of 25 students,” he said, adding that technical professionals must be equally excellent in both the academic and technical aspects as part of the requirements in developed countries.

Meanwhile, Selangor Socio-Economic Empowerment and Development, and Caring Government Committee chairman V Ganabatirau said the programme is in line with the state government’s plan to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

“The state government supports the learning institutions and private firms’ efforts to feed the human capital demand in industries, as the gap is still wide compared to developed countries.

“Also, learning institutions have to align the module and co-curriculum of TVET to the global industry growth, as well as position them to be industry- driven,” he said in his speech.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the unemployment rate in Selangor in 2017 has reduced to 2.8% from 3.2% in 2016.

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