The government is now offering vocational training opportunities as part of national service.

Trainees can opt to undergo vocational training ranging from eight to 34-week courses, after completeing the initial eight-week training, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters today.

The initial eight-week training includes modules on patriotism and nation-building.

The government targets 80 percent of the 20,000 school-leavers who will undergo national service will opt for the vocational traning, he said after aunching Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (National Service) 2.0 in Kuala Lumpur.

In PLKN 2.0's pilot project held between Oct 17 and Dec 19 last year, Hishammuddin said 108 trainees had continued to Phase Two by undergoing programmes offered at the Malaysia Automotive Institute, National Skills Development Institute (IKBN) and KRU Academy.

"Through Phase Two, trainees have the opportunity to enrol in their field of interest.

"To ensure its success, the Defence Ministry has collaborated with 10 other ministries through 400 training agencies, to offer the opportunities for free," Hishammuddin said.

Also present at the event were Youth and Sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin and more than 1,000 trainees from six camps across Selangor.

The government suspended the national service programme last year as part of its austerity drive.

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