No closure of centres

Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching (pic), said she looks at education holistically and the benefits that it will bring to our future generation. She reiterated that education should not be politicised, especially by people who do not know the system in-depth.

"It is important to acknowledge that with the advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution, necessary and even radical changes in the education scenario of the country need to take place.

"The public should understand that nine out of the 27 teacher education institutes in the country are not closing down per se but rather it is a functional conversion from offering teacher education to technical and vocational education and training (TVET)," she said in a statement.

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Dr Yap, who is Member of Parliament for Tawau, was responding to DAP Sri Tanjung Assemblyman Chan Foong Hin who questioned the rationale to close the Teacher Education Institute, Tawau Campus (Institut Pendidikan Guru, Kampus Tawau).

Referring to the budget speech presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak on October 21, 2016, she said it was clearly stated that nine out of the 27 teacher education institutes would be functionally converted to four vocational colleges, four polytechnics and a Centre for Instructor and Advanced Skill Training, respectively.

This initiative relates to the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) which focuses on labour market reforms that aim to accelerate the country's human capital development through transforming TVET and promoting lifelong learning to match industry demand.

"This is essential and timely as an estimated 60pc of the job opportunities to be created under the 11th Malaysia Plan will be skills-based. Currently, 34 polytechnics are operating beyond their capacity to accommodate 99,551 students which is way above the set capacity of 88,950 enrolment.

"Instead, Chan had the cheek to suggest that I was the one who initiated the potential closure of the Tawau Campus when in fact it was the decision of the Ministry of Education where I do not have a role to play as I am now serving in the Ministry of Higher Education. He is not realistic and pragmatic enough to move with the times," Dr Yap said.

She advised leaders to find out the facts and understand the rationale for the need to change as we brace ourselves towards the 4th Industrial Revolution, before making any unfounded allegations.

"It is pointless barking to the press to gain some political mileage on issues that need to be understood as this would only reflect the ignorance and arrogance of the individual concerned," she said.

According to Dr Yap, the projection of enrolment for polytechnics is expected to reach 115,337 by the year 2020, attributing this to awareness on the importance of TVET among the students and parents.

"To address this need, the conversion of the nine teacher education institutes into TVET institutions is a National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) to open up more skills training centres, recognising that the teacher education institutes are facing a very low enrolment of trainees which has invariably resulted in the under utilisation of the campuses," she pointed out.

The Sri Tanjung Assemblyman himself had acknowledged that there were only 191 teacher trainees, 61 lecturers and 13 higher management employees, including the director and 71 supporting staff when the institute is capable of accommodating 1200 students.

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"This is a strong indicator to suggest that the Teacher Education Institute, Tawau Campus which is complete with the necessary facilities, example hostels and skills workshops coupled with adequate manpower, is seriously underutilised. Therefore, it is not cost-effective at all just to train only 191 trainees," she said.

The Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education are working closely to facilitate the effective functional conversion of the institutes involved.

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