KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — The government takes a colour-blind stance in providing opportunities for Malaysians to attend Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
This approach is evident in the government's efforts to open up opportunities for students, regardless of race, to undergo TVET-related training in China.
“(The government) has been able to secure 5,125 placements for Malaysian students to be sent to China with full scholarships. The government or organisation only needs to pay for the flight tickets," he said during the oral question-an-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Furthermore, this initiative benefits students from various backgrounds, including those of Chinese, Indian, Sabahan, and Sarawakian descent, offering them valuable exposure and educational opportunities in China.
Zahid was responding to Jelebu MP Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias' supplementary question, addressing the first quota offered to Malaysian and Chinese students under the Malaysia-China Institute (MCI).
On May 30, the Deputy Prime Minister said that 220 Chinese companies offered 5,125 places to Malaysian students to undergo TVET-related training for short, medium, and long term, thus becoming a game changer in boosting the TVET industry in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, as many as 98.5 per cent of TVET students under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), an agency under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, secured employment. He clarified that the remaining 1.5 per cent opted to further their education by pursuing diplomas, degrees, and even master's degrees.
Emphasising the importance of aligning courses with industry demands, Zahid stressed: “We want the courses offered to be driven by the needs of industry players, ensuring graduates are readily employable in these companies.
“What we (the government) are doing now is that the industry players or the companies continue to enter MoA (Memorandum of Agreement) with TVET institutions,” he said, adding that this collaboration ensures that students completing specific courses have opportunities for continued employment within these companies.
— Bernama
