BUKIT JALIL: MIMOS Bhd is expected to lead the co-curriculum development of the Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to compete with the challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).
Head of TVET Empowerment Committee Nurul Izzah Anwar said the urge to increase the quality and marketability of TVET participants through the digital industry and information technology will become the major industry platform by 2020.
She said technology trends such as the Internet, artificial intelligence and virtual reality serve as key skills especially in building work for the younger generation.
Acknowledging that TVET is a big step that requires time, Nurul Izzah said investment, cooperation and support from many parties are need to achieve this agenda.
“It is a great opportunity for us to see more cooperation between Government - Industry - Institutions for 4IR,” she said at a press conference after launching the 4IR seminar on TVET as an enabler for Industry 4.0, here, today.
Also present were Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) Datuk Kamel Mohamad and MIMOS President and Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Rizan Ibrahim.
Asked on the allocation for the main plan for TVET, which is expected to be discussed in the first TVET Townhall Session, in the near future, Nurul Izzah said the government would reduce the allocation from RM300 million to RM180 million this year.
“The reduction of the allocation for TVET through the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) has been reduced this year.
“Unfortunately, the reduction of this provision does not help in (expanding) the cycle of graduates and institutions involved in implementing TVET.
“If this provision is consistent, it will be in line with the government’s agenda,” she said.
Commenting further, Nurul Izzah, who is also Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament, said other issues to be discussed at townhall sessions are social imbalances, salary growth and fears in accepting new technology.
“We agreed to speed up the implementation of TVET but it will still take time, to start with the investment (commitment) today," she said, referring to MIMOS' commitment.
“Although with a change of ministers, the TVET agenda needs to be prioritised," she added.