Jakoa DG: TVET another way to empower Orang Asli community

The Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme is one of the ongoing efforts by the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) to empower the Orang Asli community nationwide, said its director-general Sapiah Mohd Nor.

The TVET programmes are not only aimed at honing the existing skills of the community but also serve to raise their incomes, she told reporters after the closing ceremony of the Kelantan and Terengganu States’ Orang Asli Sports Carnival at Dewan Datuk Ariffin Said, Kesedar Gua Musang headquarters last night.

Sapiah (above) said in addition to helping develop the economy, this initiative is also one of the pathways through which Jakoa can elevate the Orang Asli out of poverty.

“Based on the government’s allocation, Jakoa has developed the economic standing of 80 percent of the Orang Asli community, through various programmes.

“We have recently added TVET to the existing infrastructure programmes, road and housing development, and the economic sector through agricultural, entrepreneurship and training assistance, under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry,” she said.

According to the latest government announcement, almost 80 to 90 percent of the approximately 213,000 Orang Asli in 835 villages in Malaysia registered in the Jakoa database live below the poverty line, said Sapiah.

“The poverty line is divided into the ‘hardcore poor’ and the ‘poor’. We have determined that TVET is not meant for students only but for all rural communities, and we will focus on providing various skills to the Orang Asli community.

“Some of the popular TVET programmes among the Orang Asli community are beautician, hairdressing, decorating, cooking, repairing skills, mechanical and electrical courses,” he said.

She also expressed confidence that these skills programmes would be able to provide the Orang Asli with career opportunities both within and outside their communities.

Sapiah added that the department also provided economic and educational assistance to the country's fragmented Orang Asli population, not just the registered villages.

- Bernama