KUCHING: Form Three school leavers in the state will now have the opportunity to achieve a diploma qualification a year earlier through the Electric Generation Programme at Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS).
Its executive director Datuk Baharudin Abdullah said the four-year diploma programme commenced this year with the first intake of 50 students.
“At the moment, we are only taking in 50 students annually based on the quota set by the Education Ministry,” he said, adding that the education institution was also planning to introduce two additional courses to its Vocational College Programme next year.
Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the programme was part of PPKS’ Vocational College programmes in line with the Education Ministry’s effort to recruit more students into the technical and vocational fields.
“The advantage of the Electric Generation Programme at PPKS is that students will be able to receive their diploma a year earlier, unlike before when students had to complete Form Five before enrolling with vocational colleges,” she told a press conference during a visit to PPKS here yesterday.
Fatimah, who is also PPKS board member, said growing demand for technical vocational education and training (TVET) showed a change in mindset of students in opting for vocational colleges as this institutions offered diplomas a year earlier.