Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar will table a private member's bill to establish a commission that will streamline and oversee all Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes nationwide.
Dubbed the Industry Skills Education and Training (ISET) Commission, Nurul Izzah aims for the body to help TVET institutes become more efficient, while also providing the skilled workers needed to make Malaysia a key player in the cyber-based fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0.
At present, there are at least 1,260 TVET institutes, out of which 568 are public and 692 are private.
The public TVET institutes, meanwhile, are under the purview of eight different ministries.
Mara, which belongs to the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, oversees 256 schools, while the Education Ministry oversees 223.
"So you need a single authoritative body (to streamline everything), a Fifa of sorts," she told Malaysiakini, referring to the international football governing body.
The TVET empowerment committee chairperson said the idea of likening the ISET Commission to Fifa came up during a meeting with the Education Ministry.
Organisational structure
However, Nurul Izzah said she would not head the commission.
Instead, the ISET Commission bill sighted by Malaysiakini states that the body will be led by a chairperson appointed by the prime minister.
The chairperson will then appoint a chief executive officer, and commission members, consisting of up to two government ministry representatives - especially from education and human resources; up to two government research institute representatives; and between two to four TVET industry experts.
The commission will report to the prime minister, and advise the premier and other government bodies on TVET matters.
It will also manage the TVET programme while also providing guidelines for the creation, management, and running of TVET institutes.
Nurul Izzah also proposed that the ISET Commission manage the Skills Development Department (JPK) which is currently under the Human Resources Ministry.
Sources of funding
Meanwhile, besides funding approved by Parliament, the commission will also have its own fund, which will be lined by monies from, among others, the Skills Development Fund, Human Resource Development Fund, and industry contributions.
The bill states that funds received from these three sources must be used to finance students, especially those who are less fortunate.
Nurul Izzah also proposed that while the ISET Commission should be allowed to borrow funds and make investments, it can only do so with the approval of the prime minister and finance minister.
Similarly, the prime minister and finance minister must also give the nod before the commission can enter into contracts, or give or receive funds worth more than RM10 million.
Speaking to Malaysiakini at Parliament on Monday, Nurul Izzah said that once she tables the bill, it would be up to the government to adopt it so it can be debated by the Dewan Rakyat.
The government will then have the authority to amend the bill as it sees fit.
She said setting up a commission to oversee TVET was vital to keep standards up at all the institutions.
In particular, she said, this would make it easier to take action against institutes that are underperforming.
Ultimately, Nurul Izzah hoped that, through the commission, TVET graduates can earn adequate wages and be successful.
"(So) we need strong political will to make sure it comes to fruition; if not, we'll still be in the same predicament moving forward," she said. -Mkini
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