Jisin Nyud
SIBU: Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) calls for building of more vocational schools in line with the growing emphasis on technical education.
Its president Jisin Nyud said this was necessary to train students for a specific trade and undergo courses that would prepare them for jobs in the real world.
“Only a person who is an expert in a particular field can get a good job. Vocational training institutes impart specialised and practical knowledge to its students and help them become independent at a particular age,” Jisin told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He was commenting on a Bernama report which quoted Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as saying that in the era of globalisation and k-economy, technical education and vocational training (TEVT) should no longer be considered as the second choice for students.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said this was because the technical and vocational fields had better prospects for marketability after students completed their studies. The Deputy Prime Minister’s fervent wish was to propose and encourage students who had completed Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM)/Equivalent to take the opportunity in continuing their studies in TEVT fields at technical universities and three premier polytechnics.
On this, Jisin said STU would strongly support Muhyiddin’s proposal for school-leavers to take up TEVT.
“TEVT will help our country meet the demands and needs of this century. As the world is shifting into knowledge-based economies with the changing face of technology, it requires individuals to be specialised in particular skills.
“Therefore, it is high time for people to be serious in TEVT,” he added.
Jisin also stressed on the need to correct the perception that an educational course was limited to a specific section of individuals including school dropouts, the non-academic-oriented and students with special learning needs.
“We are happy that the government is going to increase the number and also upgrade existing infrastructure. In order to make this programme a successful one, the government should make known to school students what TEVT courses are available (for them),” he said, adding that colleges and institutions should strive to reach out to more students, especially those in rural schools.
At the same time, STU also urged the government to look into helping rural students who face accommodation and financial issues when pursuing tertiary studies.