MySkills Foundation (MSF), an organisation committed to providing vocational training to under-privileged youths, and Global Banking and financial services provider J.P. Morgan launched a demand-led workforces readiness initiative to empower at-risk youth in Malaysia to complete their education and obtain relevant skill sets for their gainful employment.
The event to commemorate this financial grant was held yesterday (September 21) at the MySkills Foundation’s Kalumpong campus set on a 35 over acre land in Kalumpong, Ulu Selangor.
This financial grant to MSF, close to a million ringit, from J.P. Morgan is for the purpose of providing training for over 24 months to 300 under-privileged youth between the ages of 14 and 18 to equip them with electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning and soft skills that will allow them to transition into higher paying jobs upon graduation. It will, MSF expects, also see a significant reduction in drop-out rates among its students.
At this launch, Steve Clayton, Senior Country Officer for Malaysia, was present and he said, “We are committed to helping young people develop the skills they need to secure better-paying jobs in fast-growing sectors, especially as the country aims to attain high income status by 2020.”
“We believe that addressing the need for widely shared prosperity is essential and recognise that a quality job can go a long way in transforming lives and strengthening economies”, he added.
It was pointed out that the initiative not only supports youth who are in need of sustainable livelihoods, but also addresses the country’s challenges in hiring talents with technical and vocational education and training (TVET) –related skills. According to the government’s 11th Malaysia Plan, about 60 percent of the 1.5 million new jobs expected to be created in Malaysia between 2016 and 2020 will require TVET skills and there are concerns of a lack of talent with the right skill sets to meet the demands.
The founder-director of MSF S. Pasupathy in his speech referred to the plight of the Indian poor from the plantations whose children account for the majority of dropouts and the need to provide alternative skills training for them.
“Every child deserves quality education”, Pasupathy said. To achieve that objective, we in MySkills Foundation decided to provide skills development education to these students. We looked for funding from the private sector and the government. We have made some progress. We will continue to work towards our target”, he added.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of MySkills Foundation, Devasharma Gangadaran, MSF aims to increase its students’ to work experience to help them better connect their schooling with their career prospects and as a result lower their dropout rates, which remains a key challenge.
He believes that with the support from J.P. Morgan “this initiative will bring greater impact in terms of sustainable and successful careers for our graduates.”
Will the new government fulfil its Manifesto pledge no. 8 for Indians?
Pakatan Ulu Selangor MP June Liow, who was present and spoke at the function, was asked whether anything so far had been done to support MSF which has been engaged in providing exactly what the pledge no. 8, (providing skills training – TVET- for Indian youth) declares?
She replied, “I will do a promotion.”
When asked promotion for what? She replied, “To bring the issue to the Federal government and the Ministry of Education.
Months have gone by since the pledge was made. Why the lack of seriousness?
She replied, “I will bring the issue when I can. I will put it to the government.”
