Fong: Review education system to meet job needs

SENAI: The Human Resources Ministry will brief the Cabinet on the need to review the country’s education system, especially at the tertiary level, to meet the needs and demands of the job market. 

Its minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said many in the private sector were of the opinion the education system was outdated and not market-oriented. 

He said that generally, the industry players felt the current system produced students who were only good in the classroom and examinations, but lacked motivation at the work place. 

Dr Fong said graduates were also no exception, with many shocked to find what they learnt while in university was totally different in the working world.  

“The ministry is always open to suggestions, ideas and criticism and hopefully we can draw solutions to the problems,” he said. 

Dr Fong was speaking to reporters during his visit to the Flextronics Technology (M) Sdn Bhd plant here yesterday. 

He said industries, especially electronics and electrical manufacturing companies, faced a shortage of highly skilled Information and Communication Technology (ICT) workers and engineers. 

Dr Fong said that to make matters worse, Malaysian engineers and engineering graduates were in high demand in Singapore. 

He said that compared with Penang or Shah Alam, factories in Johor Baru experienced shortage of engineers as many preferred to work across the causeway.