Malaysia : Nine out of 10 graduates who go through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) are guaranteed jobs as opposed to degree holders and university leavers who only have a 60 to 70 percent hire rate. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this was because the TVET in the country has become a respected career path rather than it being consigned to school dropouts, failures and delinquents.
Furthermore, he added the government and his ministry has seen the importance of the TVET sector and have set aside RM 1billion for the development of the TVET programme. “TVET is one of the most important tools in the advancement of a nation technologically,” said Khairy, adding that TVET is one of the easiest ways now to secure jobs because of their marketability and real life experience they accrue from the programme.
Khairy was speaking at the 4th Malaysian Youth Council “1Belia 1Kemahiran” Convocation and 1B1K UMP Competent launch here today where 500 graduates were awarded their diplomas and certificates for completion of their TVET. “The TVET isn’t just a second class programme anymore, it has become a national agenda. It plays an integral part in the 11th Malaysia plan to prepare the workforce to be highly skilled by the year 2020,” he said. He said that countries who are far more technologically advanced than Malaysia have put TVET at the forefront of their education.
“Countries like Germany, who are a pioneer in the automotive industry have 60% of their school leavers enter TVET. An economy is not built on academic graduates alone. Germany is proof that the key to a highly productive and knowledgeable nation lies with its technical and vocational training,” he said.
In the six years the 1B1K has been formed, Khairy said, some 4,976 students have graduated. “We don’t want TVET to be a Kat option anymore, we want to make it a top option for school leavers,” he added.
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