Ensuring professional join TVET teaching force

Feb 21, 2017 (Tuesday)

KOTA KINABALU: The Higher Education Ministry is moving in the right direction to elevate the quality of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students by bringing in more industry practitioners into the teaching force. 

Its deputy minister Datuk Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching, said although the cabinet had approved the idea, it was in the planning stages.

At least 30 per cent of educators in technical universities should comprise industry professionals, while it was 50 per cent for community colleges and polytechnics. 

"Malaysia is a main provider of TVET graduates, with the availability of 33 polytechnics, 94 community colleges and four technical universities in the country. 

"There is a need for collaboration between the government, industrial players and stakeholders especially in curriculum design, which in the end is to meet the needs of the workforce," she said after launching the inaugural TVET seminar here yesterday. 

The programme was organised by the British High Commissioner and Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) to revolutionise human capital and boost productivity to support growing industries and economy in the state. 

The ministry had ensured that 97.4 per cent of community college students and 85 per cent of polytechnic students were employed upon graduation. 

Yap said industries had been supportive and had expressed interest to work with the ministry to ensure that TVET graduates met industry needs. 

British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadall had long-standing and close bilateral relationship. 

"Through the Education is Great campaign, which was launched in Malaysia last February, we hope to promote and share our experience in developing TVET in the UK to people of Malaysia."

Present was  SEDIA president and chief executive Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari. 


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