‘Not enough allocations given for TVET’

GABUNGAN Institut Kemahiran Swasta Bumiputera chairman Nordin Abdul Malek is disappointed with the budget announcement for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

“We were eagerly waiting to hear allocations for the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) but nothing was mentioned.

“Why is it more important to provide programmes to boost the competency of our training compared to providing funding access?” he said when contacted.

Alternative funds and incentives should have been announced for students in private TVET institutions, Nordin said.

On Oct 9, it was reported that about 20,000 students from private TVET colleges may have to discontinue their studies due to inadequate PTPK allocations.

“While the government has announced an allocation of RM650mil to upgrade and maintain all schools, will a sum from this allocation also go into upgrading and maintaining TVET programmes in schools that offer them?

“The future of TVET is uncertain and it will be a long way before (the government) prioritises it,” he said.

On the RM206mil allocation to develop and provide training programmes in polytechnics and community colleges, Nordin questioned whether it is sufficient for more student enrolment.

While National Parent-Teacher Associations’ Vocational and Technical Consultative Council vice-chairman Abul Nasir lauded the government’s effort to enhance youth competency, he said it should not stop at the youth level.

“It is a good idea and should be expanded to all levels. However, the RM30mil allocation isn’t enough – it will end up becoming (another) PTPK where there will be a choke in funding.

“There were also no (announcement) on the restructuring and transformation of TVET, so how will we distribute the allocation?” he said.

These must be carried out first, he said, and then costing can be looked into.

JPK Accredited Centres (FeMac) president P. Sailanathan said considering the demand for TVET, with 60,000 students signing up yearly, the allocation is not enough.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said although there is a high allocation for TVET, the government must make known the areas of priority.

“The government must chart the way forward. What are the areas of priority – aviation, plantation, automotive, sewing, culinary, or designing?” he said.