PUTRAJAYA, April 8 ― The Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) is targeting for some 10,000 youth dropouts to be enrolled for technical and vocational education training (TVET) programmes in future.

MYC president Muammar Gaddafi Jamal Jamaluddin said it was important to provide these youths with the skills to prepare them for the labour market and as human capital investment.

He said the TVET programmes could help young people who are dropouts and at risk, to equip themselves with skills required in the automotive and oil and gas industries.

"In the past, TVET was considered as the last option, but people are now aware that developed countries need to have knowledgeable and skilful manpower as a key driver towards economic growth,” he said after witnessing the signing of 43 MoUs between MBM and 1Youth 1Skill srategic partners involving 43 private vocational colleges.

Based on estimates, Muammar Gaddafi said annually between 220,000 and 230,000 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers were not given the chance to enter universities.

"Of the total between 120,000 and 140,000 youths will receive offers to pursue their studies at vocational and community colleges and the remaining 100,000 are targeted for TVET programmes,” he said. ― Bernama