TVET gaining popularity but grads underpaid, says NUTP

PETALING JAYA: Although Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes have gained popularity, graduates are still underpaid.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan said a policy that put technologists at par with other professionals was needed if we want our youngsters to make TVET their first choice.

TVET, he said, was the way forward for the country.

But its implementation in public institutions was far from satisfactory, he said.

He was commenting on the midterm review of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) tabled on Thursday at the Dewan Rakyat by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The 11MP is a five-year development plan for the country from 2016-2020.

The mid-term review of the plan reports on progress achieved in 2016-2017 and outlines the strategies from 2018 to 2020.

The report found that the intake of TVET students has increased and though classified as technologists, graduates are not recognised as professionals with the bargaining power to demand higher wages.

National Parent-Teacher Associations’ Vocational and Technical Consultative Council vice-chairman Abul Nasir said minimum wage for TVET graduates was a must.

And the salaries of all TVET trainers must be standardised.

“Our TVET accreditation has to be internationally recognised.

“To do this, all TVET courses must come under the Education Ministry which has to work closely with the industry.

“Industry recognition is an assurance of competence. This ensures that our TVET graduates are employable,” he said.

The report also found that the TVET landscape was fragmented as programmes were offered by various institutions including agencies under different ministries, state skills development centres and private institutions.

TVET programmes offered are often similar but with two different accreditation standards and lack areas of specialisation.

The lack of practical industry exposure among TVET instructors in public institutions affected the effectiveness of TVET training, the report highlighted.

Moving forward, the report said students from B40 households would be given priority to enrol in Maktab Rendah Sains Mara and fully residential schools.

Currently, the practice is solely based on merit.

Efforts will also be intensified to improve the quality of TVET and the employability of graduates.

Emphasis would be given to review TVET programmes offered, implement harmonised accreditation system, and strengthen TVET as a preferred education pathway, the report read.

Tan said the government must be clear on the direction of the country’s TVET education.

“Are we looking at TVET in the automobile industry? Or aviation maybe?

“We have to identify the areas we want to invest in and make sure students have access to the latest learning tools and infrastructure.

“They can’t be learning to repair old engines when electric cars and hybrids are on the road now,” he said.

Tan urged the government to prioritise students from all B40 house- holds for enrolment in TVET programmes.

He said getting qualified TVET educators would be a challenge if there was no proper planning and training.

Gabungan Institut Kemahiran Swasta Bumiputera chairman Nordin Abdul Malek said the report failed to highlight a key issue.

“Everyone comments on the quality of the system but the key issue is the structural governance of TVET.

“The challenge is how to place TVET under one or at most, two ministries, rather than the current seven that are overlooking it.

“There’s no point strengthening other areas if there’s no coordination among the ministries,” he said.

TVET needs drastic reforms, Nordin said, adding that a political will from the government was necessary to improve the situation.