UITM IDENTIFYING STUDY PROGRAMMES FOR FULL CONVERSION INTO TVET - RADUAN

SHAH ALAM, June 19 (Bernama) -- Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is identifying several existing study programmes to be enhanced to fit into the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) field, said its board of directors chairman Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Raduan Che Rose.

He said this initiative, led by UiTM deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) Prof Datin Dr Suzana Sulaiman, has so far identified about 40 programmes with partial TVET elements and technical syllabuses which have the potential for full conversion into TVET programmes.

“This is among UiTM’s efforts to strengthen the technical field, which aligns with the government’s push to make TVET part of the mainstream education system.

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“We also hope to develop high-quality TVET courses for excellent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers in order to provide skilled labour that meets the country’s needs,” he told reporters after the university’s Majlis Ibadah Korban dan Akikah here today.

Raduan said this initiative is also to ensure that TVET is not seen as a second choice but rather as an equal option to other academic fields for secondary school leavers, as envisioned by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Earlier this month, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia needs to move towards making TVET a primary choice for secondary school leavers, in line with the country’s need to provide more skilled or competent labour to meet future job market demands.

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Meanwhile, Raduan, who is also the National Council of Professors (MPN) president, said UiTM has established a committee comprising academic and Health Ministry experts to investigate why over 10,000 students failed to turn up for SPM 2023.

He said this issue is a problem for the country and UiTM is taking responsibility for finding solutions in collaboration with relevant parties to ensure the future of these students is not compromised.

On May 27, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry would carry out an intervention to trace dropout candidates and give them the opportunity to register for SPM again.

Commenting on the issue of some higher education students in the Klang Valley, including UiTM, who are reportedly taking risks by offering unauthorised taxi services or ‘prebet sapu’ using personal vehicles without a Vocational Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence, Raduan said the university advised students engaging in part-time work to do so within the bounds of the law.

“We do receive reports but they only involve a small number. Therefore, I take this opportunity to urge our students to operate legally by obtaining a PSV license to avoid being charged with legal offences,” he said.

-- BERNAMA