SHAH ALAM: Chinese and Indian students will be offered Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) places in China without a fee, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the matter had been conveyed to MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
"I am very colour-blind when it comes to education. That is why the 1,345 TVET institutes nationwide are open to all," he said during his speech at the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) annual general meeting here today (Sept 15).
"Chinese children are my children, Indian children are my children," he said.
On the issue of vernacular schools, he said the Federal Court’s ruling on the constitutionality of vernacular schools reflects the government’s stance on the matter.
"We respect the country’s education policy," he said during his speech at the MIC event.
On that note, he said the rights of ethnic groups to use their mother tongue as a medium of instruction in vernacular schools must be respected.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also holds on to the same belief.
Ahmad Zahid announced that a portion of the RM200mil allocated for TVET programmes would be channelled to Tafe College and VTAR Institute.
Ahmad Zahid said this was not a political promise.
Also present at the function were Vigneswaran, Dr Wee, and Barisan Nasional secretary-general and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
