SHAH ALAM: The government has agreed to allocate a portion of the RM200 million from the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) development fund to institutions under MIC and MCA this year.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the funds would be distributed according to the needs of the courses offered by these higher education institutions.
He said however, the specific allocation for Tafe College and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) will be determined later through discussions with the Higher Education Ministry.
"This is part of the RM200 million we received from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the National TVET Development Fund.
"The funds will be allocated based on the courses currently or soon to be conducted by Tafe College and TAR UMT.
"I have had preliminary discussions with the secretary of the TVET secretariat, who is negotiating with both institutions, but the details will be provided later. The allocation amount will depend on the needs," he told reporters at the 78th MIC Annual General Assembly today.
Earlier, Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman, had pledged to set aside racial sentiments in the development of education, particularly in TVET.
He said efforts would be made to collaborate with Tafe College through the Malaysian Technical Universities Network (MTUN).
"A cabinet meeting two weeks ago decided that Tafe College students with Malaysian Skills Certificates Levels 6, 7, and 8 will be recognised as equivalent to a first degree.
"Therefore, for Tafe College, I will work towards having students with SKM Levels 6, 7, and 8 obtain degrees from Tafe College and MTUN," he added.