We need more tie-ups with overseas training centres, says deputy minister

The Education Ministry wants an enhanced strategic collaboration between local and international training centres to produce skilled graduates to meet the needs of various industries. Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said such collaboration could provide an opportunity for local training companies to exchange skills for the needs of increasingly competitive industries. "Through the collaboration, students will be exposed to the system and internationally recognised training syllabus, certified by many foreign countries. At the same time, job opportunities will be created at home and abroad," he said today. He had earlier witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between private skills training centre, SG Education Group (Malaysia) and the world's largest education company, Pearson, from the United Kingdom. SG Education was represented by its chief executive officer and founder Datuk Seri Ganes Palaniappan while Pearson was represented by its Asian division head, Steven McGill. The collaboration includes a dual certification programme (dual diploma), a partnership with universities as well as employment, skills and needs of industries. He said for a start, 40 students of SG Education would receive a Pearson scholarship worth RM500,000.       Meanwhile, austerity measures introduced after the Budget 2016 was announced did not involve educational needs, since it only involved management expenses, Kamalanathan said after opening the new frog classrooms at SMK Assunta today. Commenting on the launch of three frog classrooms using the virtual learning platform (Frog VLE), Kamalanathan said the collaboration with YTL Foundation fulfilled the ninth shift of the Malaysian Education Development Plan which welcomed the collaboration between public and private sectors. – Bernama, March 10, 2016.]]>