'Academy in Factory' to provide on-the-job training for youths

 

PARLIAMENT | The government will focus on providing on-the-job training for youths to address the gap skills required for jobs, said Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

The ministry, in collaboration with other related ministries, would open an academy under the government’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programme, dubbed the ’Academy in Factory’.

Companies, such as those in the manufacturing sector, would provide training to the youths to gain the necessary skillset, and subsequently provide them with job opportunities.

“(This would allow youths) to not solely depend on getting a degree or certificate, which takes a long time, but through on-the-job training that will shorten the span of gaining these skills,” he said.

Rafizi (Harapan-Pandan) told the Dewan Rakyat today that the low demand for youths as part of the labour force was due to an incompatible spectrum of jobs and the lack of required skills, such as digital skills.

If successfully implemented, he said, ‘Academy in Factory’ would be able to train 100,000 youths this year.

Rafizi (above) was responding to Muhammad Ismi Mat Taib (PN-Parit) who had questioned the ministry’s plans to curb the issue of low demand for youths as part of the labour force.

Previously, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that TVET courses needed to cater to current youths’ interests and aspirations.

She said that many young people consider existing courses outdated as they do not meet the present-day’s economic situation. - Mkini