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| Len Talif (fifth left) symbolically launches the college’s logo in conjunction to their 50th Golden Jubilee celebration. Flora is on fourth left. |
KUCHING: Producing graduates with technical skills and hands-on experience
is vital to propel the state’s economic growth via Sarawak Corridor of
Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Promotion of Technical
Education) Datu Len Talif Salleh said industrialised nations such as Germany
and South Korea had shown what could be achieved through technical and
vocational training of their human capital.
“Even though we are several years behind, there is always a point where we
should start and look seriously at the importance of technical and vocational
education,” he said when closing Kuching Vocational College’s 50th Golden
Jubilee celebration at Jalan Batu Lintang yesterday.
Len Talif, who is also Belawai assemblyman, said technical and vocational
education should not be seen as a ‘second choice’ among school leavers.
“Some who call themselves engineers from top-notch universities are still
not guaranteed to produce the same quality and workmanship of students who
graduated from technical institutions.”
In technical and vocational institutions, it is common to have at least 70
per cent of course work on a hands-on basis while the remaining 30 per cent are
on theories and classroom subjects.
It is undeniable that most theoretical studies would falter and produce
inefficient results in workshop as the rule of thumb and hands-on experience is
the formula for success in any production line.
Kuching Vocational College director Flora Imor Phillips said the college
had added two new subjects, namely Diploma in Accounting and Fashion and
Design.
Before 2012, the college was known as Sekolah Menengah Vokasional Kuching.
It was later selected as one of the 15 schools across Malaysia to be
transformed into a college under a pilot project by the Ministry of Education.
This year’s celebration started on Friday and among the activities held at
the compound of the college included career showcase, stalls selling food and
clothing items, sports competition, singing competition and an Open Day for the
college’s automotive workshop.
