Johor needs more flexible TVET institution to produce skilled workforce – Exco
27 Mar 2023
Johor needs a flexible Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution and competent teaching staff in order to produce a knowledgeable and trained labour force to develop the state’s economy, said state Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources Committee chairman (Exco) Mohd Hairi Mad Shah.
He said key players in TVET and industry in the state should also take advantage of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) to enhance their ability and competitiveness in facing new challenges as well as ensuring that no one is left behind.
“Johor needs a TVET institution … and the institution itself must be fully equipped and strong to face this challenge. We believe the agenda to empower TVET together with the key industry players should be the main strategic direction of TVET,” he said in replying to a supplementary question from Amira Aisya Abd Aziz (MUDA-Puteri Wangsa) at the Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in Kota Iskandar here today.
Amira Aiya wanted to know what steps are being taken by the state government to overcome the problem of unemployment and to resolve job mismatch among graduates in Johor.
Mohd Hairi (BN-Larkin) said the state government through the Johor Human Capital Strategic Unit has taken the step to establish a Human Capital Steering Committee as a platform to share and collect information related to job scope, skills and industry opportunities.
“Through this platform, we can bring together agencies related to human capital development and industry players, in fact, new strategies can be developed to help TVET institutions produce a highly skilled workforce according to different expertise thus filling the employment needs as a result of the investments received by the state,” he said.
He said the state government had allocated RM5.2 million for the implementation of the Johor Skills Training Programme (PRO-MAHIR) aimed at empowering TVET graduates last year.
He said the PRO-MAHIR is an initiative that offers free skills courses apart from job placements for TVET graduates once they complete the Upskilling and Reskilling Programme courses based on the concept of “train and place”.
According to Mohd Hairi, various initiatives will be taken to produce a competent labour force, among them through the TVET Carnival programme in July this year.
The programme aims to introduce TVET learning to primary and secondary school students and also provide awareness to parents on the advantages and career opportunities in the field of TVET.
Source: Bernama
