TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES (Provision for unemployed school certificate holders)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Education whether the Government will consider setting up a special Technical and Vocational Training Centre to train those School-Certificate holders who are unemployed, so as to enable them to find jobs in the industrial or commercial sector.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education is considering the establishment of a National Technical Institute which will train trade technicians who require more craft and manipulative skills rather than an extensive knowledge of science and technology. This institute will provide special courses for School Certificate holders from the general education stream who wish to be trained for blue-collar jobs.

In addition, two new Vocational Institutes and a number of Industrial Training Centres will be established in 1969. These institutions will increase further the intake of students who wish to pursue technical education and training programmes to fit themselves for employment in the industrial sector.

The Adult Education Board is also reorganising some of its courses to give greater emphasis on technical, industrial and commercial subjects in their evening classes.