NUTP not convinced on Nurul Izzah chairing TVET committee

Malaysia's largest teachers group says it would be better for a person with ministerial powers to lead the committee.

National Union of the Teaching Profession president Kamarozaman Abd Razak.

PETALING JAYA: The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has questioned Nurul Izzah Anwar’s ability to head a committee to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the country.

Speaking to FMT, the union’s president Kamarozaman Abd Razak said this was because Nurul, who is Permatang Pauh MP, does not have ministerial powers and is not part of the Cabinet.

Kamarozaman said the TVET committee would involve multiple ministries, pointing to the former council under the previous administration where seven ministries were involved.

Because of this, he said, it would be better if a person with ministerial powers headed the committee so that he or she could raise issues in the Cabinet and resolve matters within the different ministries.

He said this was why NUTP had proposed that Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail lead the committee.

“The deputy prime minister can lead all ministries and chair meetings. Our view is that the deputy prime minister has full powers to handle TVET.”

Still, Kamarozaman said NUTP felt positive over the committee and called for a single body to give recognition in TVET.

Meanwhile, National Parent-Teacher Association consultative council (PIBGN) chairman Mohamad Ali Hassan said Nurul should be given a chance to prove her capability.

“I believe that as chairman, she will be supported by committee members who are experts and are experienced, who will advise her and give their professional views.

“Maybe Nurul does not have the experience, but the other committee members will perhaps make up for it.”

Yesterday, Education Minister Maszlee Malik announced that Nurul, who is PKR vice-president, would head the committee which will soon prepare a report to upgrade TVET. -FMT