KUALA LANGAT: To ensure the professional survival of younger generations, the Malaysian vocational education and training system must be upgraded to be in line with the expectations and demands of global industry.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the country cannot afford to wait another 10 years for a training system revamp, as some trade jobs may no longer exist in 30 years’ time.
To underscore his point, Khairy cited a new report from international consultancy firm PwC, which states that nearly 40 per cent of jobs in the US could soon be taken over by robots.
"The threats are real. According to the study, almost 40 per cent of jobs now will be (carried out) by robots, in just the next 30 years. This is not just in the US, but everywhere around the world.
"This is why our training and vocational education system must be upgraded (now).
"We can't wait another 10 or 15 years, because by then, (some) jobs will be extinct and our graduates will be left with no jobs," he said during the "Hello Youth" programme at the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) here, today.
In line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's National Transformation 2050 (TN50) programme, Khairy said the revamp must be followed through with to ensure that new generations are well-equipped for what they have to face in 30 years.
"We must train children and students in new courses, instead of the same ones, because we don't want them to learn about professions that will no longer exist in 2050.
"This is why the TN50 blueprint is important and we must do (the upgrades) now, or we will see more unemployment in the future," he added.
Envisioned by Najib, TN50 is the country’s roadmap for 30 years, post 2020.
The prime minister first announced the 30-year transformation plan during the tabling of Budget 2017 on Oct 21, 2016, describing it as “our lucky charm”.
TN50 is aimed at shaping a new vision for Malaysia, transforming it into a nation of calibre, with a new mind set.