KEPALA BATAS – The government will provide additional funds for Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) to conduct training for lecturers in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said that the additional funds were to enable the university’s TVET lecturers to be given training in line with the needs of the industry.
“Initially, this plan is for next year, but I want this matter to be expedited in this short time.
“I will ask Geely and Petronas to cooperate with UniKL, and conduct a special programme for TVET lecturers,” he said at the TVET community dialogue session, held in conjunction with the TVET@KKDW 2023 Expo, here today.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, added that his ministry will discuss the additional allocation tomorrow.
Among those also present were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow; Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is the rural and regional development minister; Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir.
Anwar said that there are more than 400 TVET institutions under the Education Ministry, while as many as 250 institutions are under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.
The Cabinet has also decided not to prevent any company from taking over TVET institutions, on the condition that they provide better training, he said.
He added that Petronas had been asked to take over the TVET institutions in Pengerang in Johor, Batu Rakit in Terengganu, and Perodua in Pekan, Pahang.
“I understand that Petronas has provided TVET training, and of course, those who work with Petronas will receive a salary of more than RM3,000,” he said.
Anwar said that the government has spent RM6.8 billion on all TVET institutions in the country, in an effort to improve the capabilities of TVET graduates in line with the fourth industrial revolution.
“If the capacity of the workforce can be improved, international companies such as Tesla and Geely promise to give a salary of RM2,500 to RM3,000 to our TVET graduates. This is what they promised when they held talks with the government,” he said. – Bernama, July 16, 2023
