PETALING JAYA – A technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduate could potentially earn as much as RM20,000 monthly in today’s era, contrary to the outdated stigma suggesting it is not a lucrative career choice.
Speaking to Scoop, Sentosa assemblyman Dr G. Gunaraj said it is high time for the Education Ministry to emphasise TVET as a viable career path. This is because it is now on par with conventional industries such as medicine or engineering.
He said that subjects taught under TVET require specific skills acquired through months and years of training, resulting in lucrative returns in terms of salaries.
“One of the success stories I’ve heard about TVET graduates is the one about underwater welders, where they could earn up to RM25,000 per month.
“There is an academy in Sabah that offers such a course, and it’s a six-year training programme.
“The skills taught to the students were so specific that these graduates are in demand all over the world.
“So you can imagine that even though the job is risky, the students at the academy have been trained to acquire these specific skills and the risks that come with the job.
“Despite it all, you will be able to earn a good income.
“Apart from this, I also often hear about how TVET graduates as young as 28 years old would venture out and come up with their own start-up business. Often, they too would earn around RM20,000 per month,” he added.
He said that the overwhelming response, with nearly 3,000 attendees at Selangor’s recent interactive expo, demonstrates the increasing awareness among students from higher education institutions and schools regarding TVET and its courses.
The expo, held at MBPJ Civic Hall, showcased TVET courses from various community colleges and higher learning institutions. It also showcases job opportunities within uniformed bodies like the police, fire and rescue departments, and the army.
Among the unique courses showcased at this expo is golf-engineering technology offered by Akademi Kemahiran Belia Golf under the Youth and Sports Ministry, alongside pilot training provided by Banting Polytechnic.
“The objective of this expo is to increase awareness. We aim to ensure that everyone continues to have access to education.”
“We want to make sure that every child receives the right education. Some students might consider discontinuing their education after secondary school due to a dislike for examinations.
“However, through this expo, we aspire to demonstrate to these students that there are alternative courses available that prioritise skill development over extensive examination requirements,” he added.
Skilled worker pool
Gunaraj said that besides the financial incentives, the country’s pool of skilled workers would greatly benefit from TVET graduates – particularly if there are ample job opportunities available for them within local industries.
“The government is doing its level best to attract investors to the country. When the investors arrive, we need to ensure that we are prepared with our skilled workers.
“By doing this, we no longer need to depend on foreign workers. By empowering our own people, we can expect that within three to four years, we will be able to cease the hiring of foreign workers entirely.
“Employers are spending a significant amount on just one foreign worker, including their permits.
“These funds could be better utilised within our local industries by investing in our TVET graduates and skilled local workers,” he said. – March 25, 2024