National Academy-in-Industry project to be launched next week, says Rafizi

SEREMBAN: The national Academy-in-Industry pilot project will be launched next Tuesday, says Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli (pic).

Rafizi said the ministry managed to attract some 200 international manufacturing companies to join the programme aimed at implementing labour market reforms, adding that it will give youths opportunities to be trained as highly skilled workers.

He said the programme will also address issues related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) such as the duration of the course, failure to complete studies and waning interest in the field.

“In the last two months we managed to get the companies and they will be given the opportunity to hire, train the workers who will be issued a certificate within 18 months,” said Rafizi.

He added that these companies are mostly international manufacturing companies.

“If we don’t do something creative like this, it will be detrimental especially to youths who have no qualifications. Only about 30% of our SPM school leavers pursue further studies,” he told reporters when met at the Jelajah Madani programme at the Taman Megaway Business Centre grounds on Saturday (July 30) night.

He said the remaining 70% only have their SPM certificate which could not help them much for their career advancement.

The Pandan MP added that the government plans to expand the programme by collaborating with higher education institutions (IPT) to recognise the certificates obtained through the Academy in Industry thus enabling participants to continue their studies at diploma and degree levels.

“Insya-Allah we will work something out with the IPTs,” he said adding in this way school leavers would have two options, either to go to university to study and find a job later or to enter the industry to work and later get their paper qualification. – BK