PETALING JAYA: With the upcoming Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results, experts say this group of school-leavers has multiple career paths.
In tandem with pursuing further academic qualifications, they said these teenagers should also consider technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Soft skill development should also be prioritised to help these teenagers stand out in the competitive job market, they added.
Malaysian Employers Federation president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said Malaysia primarily lacks a skilled workforce, noting the need to promote TVET among school- leavers.
“TVET prepares students with specific skills for specific jobs, making them more employable as they are trained and equipped with the right skills required by the labour market.
“This gives TVET graduates an advantage in the job market compared with fresh academic graduates,” he said.
He said SPM school-leavers should consider pursuing further education in the TVET field to acquire higher skills.
“It creates greater opportunities and better career pathways, alongside being able to command better pay.
“Continuous lifetime learning is the way forward to employability and staying relevant to the needs of industry and the country,” said Syed Hussain.
He noted the growing trend of SPM school-leavers being reluctant to pursue further education.
Among the reasons are the need to support their families and a preference for gig economy jobs.
Besides that, he said many graduates who could not find employment in their field of study had taken on lower-skilled positions, among others.
Bumiputra Private Skills Training Institution action committee chairman Nordin Abdul Malek said school-leavers should consider TVET as a primary route once they complete school.
“The various TVET programmes can provide a wide range of job opportunities in the coming years.
“Due to economic uncertainties, taking up TVET upon finishing one’s secondary education could ensure that the individual lands a sustainable job in the coming years,” he said, adding that TVET skills are always relevant.
Nordin also called for school- leavers to explore TVET fields that have the potential for higher demand in the next three to five years.
“For example, students can pursue agriculture-based programmes in preparation for their future careers, as we can see even now that food security is a hot topic globally.
“The same goes for pursuing training in smart technologies and artificial intelligence as society gradually moves in that direction,” he said.
Nordin said the relevant stakeholders should also play their part in further developing TVET courses.
“A more substantial syllabus is needed to entice students. Early TVET exposure is also important to pique students’ interests,” he added.
JobStreet Malaysia managing director Vic Sithasanan said while various studies showed that most employers still expect their employees to be graduates, they do not attach much significance to the awarding institutions or the degree itself.
“That said, some jobs still require a certain level of education such as in teaching, medicine and law, which depend on knowledge gained in the classroom,” he said.
“Building soft skills should be emphasised as they complement technical expertise, making one a more well-rounded employee.
“It prepares one to take on different roles and explore various industries while also having the potential to future-proof one’s career, regardless of the industry or field chosen.”
He added that the top five soft skills are interpersonal skills, time management, problem solving, creativity and leadership.
Meanwhile, educationist and former Universiti Malaya professor Tan Sri Dr T. Marimuthu said the Education Ministry could consider conducting a bridging course for this particular group of school-leavers if the ministry feels that the students have not been able to undergo the full learning experience.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the students might have experienced disruptions not only to their education, but also soft skill development.
“Some special treatment may be warranted for this batch to help them adapt to the needs of the job market while also piquing their interest across various fields of work and study,” he said.
The bridging courses, he added, should also place a focus on improving students’ proficiency in English.
