15 schools selected to test new vocational syllabus
IPOH: The country's Vocational-Technical (Voc-Tech) stream will be transformed from its current status as optional study for secondary students to reflect the government's emphasis on creating a skilled and trained workforce.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the stream, now offered to students who have sat the Penilaian Menengah Rendah examination, would be opened to Form One students in the next five years.
Towards achieving this objective, the ministry has selected 15 regular schools nationwide as apprentice schools to test out its new "Program Asas Vokasional" (PAV) syllabus.
The syllabus, an upgrade of the present Voc-Tech education, is expected to be implemented at these schools beginning 2013.
Puad said at least one school in each state would be selected to implement the PAV syllabus which would replace the MPV or "Mata Pelajaran Vokasional" (vocational subject).
"Students who enrol in PAV will undergo vocational education from Form One to Form Three.
"After that, they will be admitted to vocational colleges for another three years to achieve the same status as students sitting the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia," he said after closing the Young Scientists Expo 2011 here yesterday.
Vocational students would have to undergo three years of middle secondary education compared with two years for SPM because of the complexity of the syllabus, he added.
Puad also said unlike Voc-Tech stream in developed countries, which provided for on-the-job training, the programme in the country focused more on academic segment (55 per cent) than vocational teaching (45 per cent).
In developed countries, the vocational segment constituted 70 per cent of the syllabus.
"That is why more years are needed to produce skilled workers."
Puad also said the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Vokasional (SMKV) would be replaced by vocational colleges, which would be set up with private-funding initiatives (PFI).
"Under PFI, the private sector will either set up these colleges or use existing colleges," he added.
"We are talking to the Higher Education Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry on the type of certifications to be accorded to students who have completed their vocational studies under PAV."
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