Izah Azahari
Over 20 per cent of students after completing O-levels do not pursue further education, training or find employment, said Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh during yesterday’s 19th Legislative Council (LegCo) session.
LegCo member Yang Berhormat Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin queried on the ministry’s goals of not letting any youth under the age of 18 drop out of education.
In her reply, the minister said that based on their tracking, an average of 60 to 65 per cent will continue their studies the following year while 10 per cent will find employment using their O-level results.
Meanwhile 20 to 25 per cent are categorised as not in employment, education and training or NIEET.
“For those categorised as NIEET, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has expanded post-secondary education to provide opportunities for them to improve their knowledge and gain skills needed to find quality jobs,” said the minister.
The initiatives include technical and vocational education and training (TVET) recruiting at least twice a year, giving O-level graduates more opportunities to apply.
“This year, the Human Capital Development Scheme through TVET education in private institutions of higher learning (TVET scheme) was also introduced to help secondary school graduates, especially those who obtained zero to three ‘O’ Levels to be given training and industry exposure before venturing into the world of work,” she said.
She said the programme is similar to the Technical and Vocational Education Scholarship (BPTV) Scheme, in that it is for students who have zero to three O-levels and from underprivileged backgrounds, but it would also allow the opportunity to leave and apply for jobs after passing, or to enter the TVET Scheme to continue studies.
“The ministry through the Lifelong Learning Centre also offers academic improvement programmes in the evenings or weekends to provide for students wishing to retake their O-Level or A-Level exams,” she said, adding that the centre also collaborates with other institutions for upskilling or reskilling programmes.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad said initiatives carried out by the Youth Development Centre supplements efforts by the MoE, offering self-development programmes to improve the personality of the trainees, especially in terms of identity, leadership, discipline, spirituality, group work and time management. He said there is no minimum requirement to join, adding that these programmes give people who are unable to otherwise continue their education, a chance in gaining skills.
