Within the framework of the Vocational Education and Training Programme for the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-VET) and in line with the OIC-TVET Strategic Roadmap 2020-2025, SESRIC organised a Training Workshop on “Developing Strategies on Enhancing Public Perception of TVET” on 21-23 September 2021 through an online video conferencing platform.

The training workshop was provided by competent experts from the Technical and Vocational Education Training Division of the Ministry of Education Malaysia for the benefit of 108 experts and executives from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Authorities and relevant national institutions of 26 OIC member countries.

The training workshop brought together participants from the national TVET Authorities of the OIC member countries to discuss the multi-dimensional reasons adversely influencing the image of TVET amongst the public and consider ways and means of improving the public perception of TVET. The training also provided insights into various strategies and practices that help enhance the image of TVET at national levels by highlighting the importance of ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality TVET for all.

The training workshop commenced with the opening statement by Mr. Fadi FARASIN, Assistant Director General of SESRIC, who stressed that TVET plays a vital role in sustainable socio-economic development. He highlighted that the poor quality of TVET provision, weak linkages with stakeholders, social stigma, cultural barriers, and lack of qualified and competent teachers are among various multi-dimensional reasons behind the negative perception of TVET among the public. He further emphasized that TVET should be considered a viable educational option for a high quality of education, occupational career development and requirements of the labour market, and efforts towards increasing the status and attractiveness of TVET will help enhance the public perception of TVET.

In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Hajah Zanariah Binti Haji AHMAD, Director of Technical Vocational Education and Training pision of the Ministry of Education Malaysia, briefed the participants on their pision's TVET initiatives in line with their Education Development Plan of 2030. She highlighted that the plan focuses on providing quality TVET and promoting long-life learning opportunities at the national level. She also expressed her gratitude for this collaboration opportunity with SESRIC and underlined that exchanging expertise, ideas, and knowledge among the TVET authorities could develop better strategies in this vital domain and strengthen cooperation among the OIC member countries.

This training workshop was conducted in line with the virtual training solutions undertaken by SESRIC to better serve the Centre’s training activities and keep participants motivated and engaged during this challenging time of global crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All presentations of the training course are available at this link.

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