Multiracial trainers wanted for ITIs, says Kula
IPOH: The 32 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) nationwide need to have multiracial trainers so that a wider section of society can benefit from its classes, says Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran.
He noted that not all Malaysians were proficient in Bahasa Malaysia but everyone deserved a chance to get skills training.
In Ipoh, for example, where there are many Chinese residents and industries, he said: “We must change our mindset. Tomorrow’s global language is Mandarin, so we must move towards this in collaboration with all these industries and foundries,” he said after a working visit to the ITI here yesterday.
“We can have Chinese, Tamil and other languages (trainers) and to get dropouts to join the vocational training,” he said.
“This should be encouraged as language should not be a barrier,” he added.
Kulasegaran said he met with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who instructed him to improve the current state of things and to get more people involved in skills training.
“We need better skills training centres, so more can join and get higher income. With more job placements, we need not depend on foreign workers,” he said.
Kulasegaran said ITIs should do more outreach programmes to encourage enrolment.
He would also suggest to the Cabinet to standardise and place all vocational training centres under one ministry as some training centres also come under the Education and Youth and Sports ministries.