No More Labeling, They are Not Second Class Group


Before, it is a common situation when we found anybody who have graduated or passed from training or programme of vocational skills oriented institutions like Majlis Latihan Vokasional Kebangsaan, Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara, Institut Latihan Perindustrian, ADTEC MARA and Giat MARA, some might have perception that they are drop out or second class group compared to university graduates. In my opinion, we should throw that kind of perception away since it is no longer relevant to our current workforce setting. It might be true they were not performing well in their academic during school hood but it does not mean that they have no mission in their life or in their career path. It is unfair if we judge their future is in darkness once they could not get any offer to pursue study at higher education institution because no body knows their fortune in tomorrow. Failure in an essential public exam like SPM, it does mean their world is over!

To those who think this group is totally drop out people, I would like to attract your attention to think about the unemployment rates among university graduates. It is a fact in Malaysia we have thousands jobless university graduates, but this problem is rarely face by the vocational based institutions’ graduates. In this matter, the advantage that they have compared to university graduates is, they already have immersed with the skills required by the world of work they are belong to. This condition occurs due to the training that they get during at the institutions is much more practical rather than knowing the theory. They become immersed with the “technical know how” of knowledge they gained since they get wide opportunity to hands on it. Therefore, in this case, they are can be more competitive to get their job rather than university graduates who are struggling to get a job which in line which their specialization due to lack of experience in practicing the knowledge except during practical semester period.


One more aspect I want you to bear in mind is their opportunity to have enormous amount of income. Do not be surprised if one day you find that some of them might have income which reaches more that 4 digits per month. While university graduates are still struggling to find a proper job, some of those who only have certificate in welding specialization from Giat MARA for instance, can establish their career by doing business or getting various projects based on skills and expertise they have. For instance, one of my friend in Malacca, he only have PMR certificate for academic, but can be a successful in running a welding business after getting Giat MARA certificate. Of course his academic achievement is far from the university graduates standard, but the reality is, in certain months, sometimes he can gain more than ten thousand Ringgit, based on projects he get, a matter that not every university graduate might enjoy it in their lifetime. However, to achieve this kind of success, the person must have a clear vision to establish his career and finally execute every thing systematically and accordingly. In other words, besides the skills they already had, added value in him like enterprising skill and attitude is a booster for him to success in his career.

Therefore, I would like to remind my friends and also to myself, as counselor to be, besides expose school students with information about chances to pursue study to IPTA, it is a must for us to guide them with information on how to get into alternative institutions like Majlis Latihan Vokasional Kebangsaan, Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara, Institut Latihan Perindustrian, ADTEC MARA and Giat MARA so that they know there are some places they can go to enhance their self development for a better future. Finally, as a counselor to be, do not let yourself to label them as second class or dropped out group!

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