PARTI Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) has applauded the announcement that the Government will be offering the Dermasiswa B40 TVET Scholarships for B40 students to pursue studies in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) at public higher learning institutions under the Higher Education Ministry this year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that this was to motivate and encourage more students to pursue their tertiary studies in TVET, and that the Government has projected that each intake of the programme will involve a financial implication of RM36.41 mil.
“PBM believes that the move not only helps those in the B40 group to break the poverty cycle but also narrows the gap between the haves and have-nots in the country to create a more equitable and competitive society,” said the party’s secretary-general Nor Hizwan Ahmad.
“The fact is that TVET today is no longer regarded as an inferior education track. In many developed countries like Japan and Germany, TVET is the preferred option for students.”
According to Nor Hizwan, those with TVET backgrounds stand to have an edge in today’s rapidly-developing technological landscape.
He also said that technological waves like IR4.0, artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data and biotechnology are rapidly sweeping across the world and to master these skills, one would need to have a sound technical and vocational grounding.
“Employment data in recent years also show that people who are trained in these areas are highly sought after by employers. In this respect, PBM is gratified to note that the Prime Minister has the wisdom to push for TVET education among the B40,” he remarked.
“When these TVET students graduate, they would not only help lift the incomes of their families, they would also be able to contribute meaningfully to the country through their technical and vocational expertise.”
PBM further supports the Prime Minister’s decision to observe June 2 as the National TVET Day, with Nor Hizwan pointing out that the symbolism associated with the declaration underlies the Government’s serious commitment to uplift TVET in the country.
“In this respect, PBM calls on the public to change their mindsets about TVET being a second-class educational track,” he noted.
“They should encourage the young to take up TVET due to the immense opportunities graduates in the field can tap into and its ability to bring rapid development to the country.” – June 21, 2022
