The Ministry of Human Resources (HR) has raised concerns regarding the feasibility of our country’s goal to have a 35% new highly skilled workforce in the economic sector by 2030.
This is due to the recent trend of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) graduates not pursuing higher education, with most of them being more interested in working in the gig economy sector such as e-hailing or choosing to work in the manufacturing sector.
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In fact, it was recently revealed by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan that around 300,000 SPM graduates every year didn’t continue their studies.
As reported by BERNAMA, HR Deputy Minister Mustapha Sakmud said that this trend is expected to have a detrimental impact on our country’s human resources. He asserted,
“This trend is very worrying and it is expected to have an impact on the country’s human resources in the future. Right now, we only managed to reach a target of around 28 per cent of highly skilled workforce in the country.”
“We are worried that we will not be able to become a developed country with sufficient highly skilled manpower in the near future.”
Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Mustapha Sakmud
Hence, Mustapha said that SPM graduates are encouraged to work while studying, especially in short-term courses. This is to ensure that they obtain at least a skills certificate in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Accordingly, the government through the HR Ministry and the Department of Manpower is also actively promoting TVET among students to attract their interest in continuing their studies in the technical field.
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Besides that, the government is also studying the progressive wages used in most countries such as our neighbour Singapore to increase worker productivity and to curb the country’s workforce from migrating abroad to work.
So, what do you guys think of the statement by the HR Deputy Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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