Upskill 1,000 Indian youths, cut dropout rates, urges Santiago

 Former Klang MP Charles Santiago says the 2027 budget should allocate funds to train Indian youths through TVET and other programmes.

Former MP Charles Santiago reiterated his call for a Cabinet committee on Indian affairs chaired by the prime minister.

PETALING JAYA:

Former Klang MP Charles Santiago has urged the government to include initiatives in the 2027 budget to upskill at least 1,000 Indian youths and reduce the school dropout rate in the community.

Santiago said the government should set a specific target of 1,000 Indian youths for upskilling, with candidates identified through schools, open applications, and NGOs.

He said the training could be delivered through technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and other programmes, with particular emphasis on cybersecurity and digital occupations.

He urged the government to develop specific efforts to prevent Indian students from leaving the school system, also focusing on a target number, such as 1,000 students.

He said the high dropout rate, particularly among students who did not pursue further education after SPM, could be addressed by providing them with opportunities to develop skills through TVET and other vocational programmes.

This would give them an alternative pathway to acquire practical, industry-relevant skills, gain qualifications and secure employment.

“Such programmes could also help keep vulnerable youths engaged in education or training and reduce the risk of them being drawn into negative influences, including gang recruitment,” he said.

Santiago also cautioned against framing the issue simply as a problem of “gangsterism” among Indians, saying this could unfairly stigmatise the community.

He said the government should set up a Cabinet committee on Indian affairs chaired by the prime minister.

“The committee would bring together senior ministers and secretaries-general of ministries to directly coordinate and accelerate policies affecting the Indian community,” he said.

Its immediate focus should be expanding skills training and addressing school dropouts.

In August, a coalition of 19 Indian NGOs known as Gelombang Saksama proposed establishing a dedicated statutory body, a public-private funding vehicle and a Cabinet committee to address the Indian community’s socio-economic challenges.

Santiago, who spoke for the coalition, had said the Cabinet committee should be set up as soon as possible to lay the groundwork for establishing the funding vehicle, as well as the dedicated statutory body. - FMT