BINTULU: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) should be the primary choice of youth to prepare themselves for jobs in the future.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Majang Renggi said TVET could be the main catalyst for the country’s economic growth through the empowerment of human resources.
According to him, TVET is a field of education and skills training that focuses on the development of practical skills.
“It can provide human resources to enter the job market and can also improve work skills of those currently in service.
“TVET has been identified as one of the 14 drivers of change in the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said when officiating at the closing of the Bintulu Vocational College TVET and STEM Carnival 2022 at Naim Bintulu Paragon Street Mall yesterday.
Majang said the Ministry of Education (MoE) always provided opportunities for students to develop their talents by creating different types of schools according to the strengths and abilities of students such as sports schools, art schools and vocational colleges.
According to the Samalaju assemblyman, these opportunities would give students an idea of what their employment scope will be like in the future, thus enabling them to get a suitable job immediately after graduating.
“Apart from TVET, the MoE is also given the responsibility of leading the implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to increase student interest through new learning approaches.
“It includes Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects that can be applied through students’ knowledge in the context of the real world,” he added.
According to Majang, the focus was also on improving the skills and abilities of teachers through the integration of STEM knowledge, skills and values as well as increasing the awareness of students and the public.
“The TVET programme also needs to be strengthened by improving the ecosystem, improving the quality of the programme through accreditation, recognition and certification by international bodies and introducing a rating system for TVET institutions,” he said.
At the same time, he said STEM needed to be empowered to prepare students for technological changes including the National 4th Industrial Revolution Policy (4IR).
He believed that the empowerment and combination of TVET, STEM and 4IR would be able to further improve the education system in the country.
