KUCHING, June 27: Sarawak is determined to position Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as an attractive career pathway by emulating the dual system practised in countries such as Germany, Estonia and Finland.
State Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong said under this system, the students would spend three days in the industry and two days in their college or university every week.
Upon completion of their studies, the students would have industry-relevant skills, which would facilitate their transition to the workplace.
The students would also receive a monthly allowance from the company during their apprenticeship.
“We can emulate this dual training system like what Germany is practising. My ministry is currently exploring the possibility of introducing and adapting it to suit the local environment and be aligned with industry needs,” Manyin said after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Sarawak (PPKS) and 33 secondary schools in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian divisions.
On the style of teaching and learning, he said these foreign countries used the latest technology, including smart phones, to make learning more interactive and effective.
Manyin urged parents to erase the old stigma that vocational education was only for school dropouts.
“Sarawak is in dire need of producing human capital to support the state’s development initiatives. Parents need to get rid of this stigma. Times have changed. We must follow and improve. Vocational education must not be stigmatised as an option for dropouts because skilled workers are key to Sarawak becoming a successful state,” he said.
Manyin added that the education standard nationwide must also adjust to the needs and demands of the 21st century or the country’s younger generation would be left behind and lose their competitive edge.
He lamented how Malaysia was still so far behind — at the Industry 2.0 stage — while others were already at Industry 4.0.
He also said that Malaysia only had seven per cent skilled workers compared to other developed nations and yet 80 per cent of jobs would be science and engineering or skills-based in 10 years’ time. — DayakDaily
