Allow 13-year-olds access to TVET courses if secondary school education made compulsory, says NUTP

The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) says the proposed amendment to the Education Act 1996, which would make education compulsory up to secondary school, is timely.

The union, however, urged the powers that be to allow students as young as 13 a chance to take up technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

Currently, it is only mandatory for children to attend school until Standard 6.

NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon stated that if the amendment, which is expected to be tabled next year, is passed, the government should allow students as young as 13 who are not interested in academic studies to take up technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and make it compulsory for institutions offering such courses to accept all applications.

TVET is currently only available for those who have finished their Form Three or Form Five examinations.

“If the amendment is passed, we must allow children who have completed their primary education a chance to take up TVET courses,” said Fouzi.

“We must also ensure institutions that offer TVET courses are not ‘picky’ about applications as they want to maintain a certain standard.

“TVET is a good option if mandatory schooling is implemented for the secondary level. But if we force students who are uninterested in learning to enrol in secondary school, they will be restless in class and could disrupt the lessons, or absenteeism would increase.”

Fouzi said he does not foresee any issues with overcrowded classes if the amendment is passed, as the number of children not attending secondary school is small.

“Most parents send their children to school until they reach Form Three or Form Five. It’s only a handful of negligent parents who fail to register their children or are unaware that their children are frequently skipping classes,” he said.

“I hope that if and when the amendments take effect, the responsibility of ensuring the children attend school would not be placed on the teachers, as they are already overworked.

“As the amendment will allow action to be taken against negligent parents, there should be someone responsible for monitoring them.”

Yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said she had sent the proposed amendment to the Education Act 1996 to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for review ahead of it being tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in February.