07 November 2011 |
Vocational schools to become colleges
By Eunice Au
euniceau@nst.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: The transformation of vocational education will see 78 vocational schools upgraded to colleges by 2013.
Education Ministry technical and vocational division director Ahmad Tajudin Jab said students who studied Pendidikan Asas Vokasional from Form One to Form Three could continue their studies in vocational colleges, which would allow them to obtain Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) certificates and vocational diplomas.
"We want to promote vocational education as the education of choice as the courses will be of high stature.
"This means that students who enter vocational colleges must be good academically," he told the New Straits Times.
The colleges will offer four-year diploma programmes, with 53 courses covering 12 fields: civil engineering technology, electrical and electronic engineering technology, mechanical and manufacturing technology, information and communications technology, hospitality, marine engineering, arts and culture, transportation, health sciences, business, equine science and agro technology.
Besides the SKM III and IV certificates, which students obtain in their third year and fourth year, students will also get industry certifications related to their field of studies.
"For example, students taking a welding course will get a City & Guilds certification, electrical and electronic engineering students will obtain certification from the Energy Commission and those in the aircraft maintenance course will get Cat A and Cat B certification from the Department of Civil Aviation," Tajudin said.
This means that the vocational college certificate and diplomas will be endorsed by many parties. Fifteen schools, one chosen from each state, excluding Putrajaya, will take part in the pilot programme next year.
The schools include Sekolah Menengah Vokasional Arau, Sekolah Menengah Vokasional Alor Setar, Sekolah Menengah Vokasional Seri Manjong and Sekolah Menengah Vokasional Shah Alam.
Academic subjects such as Bahasa Malaysia, English, History, Mathematics, Science, Islamic and Moral Education and a third language, either Mandarin or Arabic, will constitute 30 per cent of the course content with 70 per cent being vocational components.
Grading of subjects would be done according to grade point average and to obtain their diplomas, students had to complete eight semesters successfully, Tajudin said.
"There will be more college-based examinations and competency-based assessments instead of the present centralised examinations."
Students also have to complete a six-month on-the-job training.
Read more: Vocational schools to become colleges - Top News - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/vocational-schools-to-become-colleges-1.1575#ixzz1fdoA6XPB
LINKS TO RELATED ARTICLES ON TRANSFORMATION TO VOCATIONAL COLLEGES
DPM: Vocational transformation programme to start 2013
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