CJMY
Penang Institute has launched a special portal to promote vocational education in Penang.
Known as the Penang Vocational Courses Portal, it aims to help school leavers choose suitable vocational courses for their further studies and generate interest among them in vocational education.
Prospective candidates can access the portal at https://vocational.penanginstitute.org.
Penang Institute executive director Datuk Dr Ooi Kee Beng said the portal is a one-stop platform for finding suitable vocational courses in Penang.
He said this initiative by the Penang Institute began amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is in response to the growing demand among school leavers and newly unemployed people for skilling opportunities.
“As we know, vocational education is often stigmatised as a final pathway choice of education when all else fails.
“However, we at Penang Institute aim to promote vocational education as one that can be a preferred education choice.
“Thus, by providing easy access to information about available vocational courses, we wish to help school leavers make informed and purposeful decisions as they pursue holistic personal growth.
“This portal is also independent and is not affiliated with any educational institutions on the site.
“All the information shared is solely to enable better decision-making among those seeking to upskill themselves under conditions that suit them best,” Dr Ooi said in his speech before Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow launched the portal at the Penang Institute in Pulau Tikus today.
Dr Ooi added that the portal also is the Penang Institute’s first step to creating synergy in lifelong education opportunities in the state and learning more about the vocational education sector.
Meanwhile, Chow congratulated and thanked Penang Institute for the noble initiative.
“As we know, Penang’s vibrant economy depends heavily on the manufacturing and services sectors, especially in tourism-related businesses. So, we need skilled workers in both these fields quite urgently.
“This demand for skilled labour is a problem but a good one, nonetheless. But it is still a problem that we need to solve.
“And when looking for solutions for a good problem, we use criteria to help structure the research and set priorities.
“In this light, vocational education is a good solution, which in many ways, allows for more individual solutions and individual career choices,” he said.
According to Chow, vocational education links knowledge and skill acquisition more directly to job opportunities because of its practical nature.
“Students in vocational education can also gain relevant experience even before they graduate.
“Thus, the state government hopes to attract more of Penang’s young people to enrol in vocational courses.
“This aligns with the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
“Our people need to acquire future-ready skills that will enable them to secure better employment and contribute to the state’s economy. For this to happen, parents, schools, and institutions must play their respective roles,” said Chow.
Chow also hoped that all students, parents, schools, and the community would fully utilise the website that Penang Institute has created.
“Working together across the public-private divide, we must be bold in facing the inevitable transition into the digital age and an ever greener and circular economy.
“And I would like to thank the Penang Institute for creating the portal and organising this event to promote vocational education in Penang,” he added.
Source: Buletin Mutiara
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