KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd plans to provide 100 per cent sponsorship to low income (B40) students to pursue their interest in automotive technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
This initiative aims to provide students from underprivileged and marginalised backgrounds with equal opportunity to quality education and build their own careers in the automotive field.
Tan Chong said the three-year programme wad recognised by the Department of Skills Development (Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran) under the Ministry of Human Resources.
The programme will cover a wide range of syllabuses and training guidelines that allow students to gain practical experience and technical knowledge to meet industry demands and expectations.
"The students under this programme will be offered employment opportunities as a passenger car or commercial vehicle technician with the Tan Chong group upon completion of the course.
"The sponsored students will also receive an additional RM500 monthly allowance during the programme period," it said.
Chief executive officer Daniel Ho said many students from B40 families were unable to further their studies for a multitude of reasons due to their family's financial position.
Ho said the company wanted to support these students by enhancing their employability skills that meet labour market demands.
"This is also in line with our national aspiration and Sustainable Development Goal 4," said Ho.
"A total of 22 sponsorships will be offered for the first intake, we will progressively increase this programme," he said.
Group human resources general manager Chan Mei-Lynn said Malaysia's automotive industry was facing an acute shortage of workers.
Thus, Chan said TVET was crucial for the country's economic development and youth empowerment.
"We believe this programme will boost the skills and workforce in the automotive field, and provide continued skilled workforce and employment for the company and country," she said.
Interested students can apply for a bursary to pursue their studies at Tan Chong Technical Institute in Petaling Jaya, Penang, Kota Bharu and Sandakan.
The programme is now open for application until Feb 15 next year.