School leavers at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level from the Orang Asli community can continue their studies at the Industrial Training Institutes (ILPs) for free.

Human Resource Minister M Kulasegaran said the move was one of the efforts to encourage more SPM leavers from the Orang Asli community to get involved in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

This would equip them with the necessary skills to gain employment opportunities.

He said that at the moment, those who wanted to pursue the certificate-level courses at ILPs would be charged RM700 which would include tuition fees as well as other school materials such as uniforms and shoes.

“We are now providing the opportunity to the Orang Asli youth so they will not be charged RM700 as the fees will be borne fully by the government.

“Apart from free meals, they will also be given monthly allowance of RM100,” he told reporters after officiating at a TVET programme briefing for students and parents of the Orang Asli Community at Perak Orang Asli Education Centre at Kampung Kerawat, Simpang Pulai, about 25km from Ipoh.

Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP, said the government would also be relaxing the ILPs’ entry requirements for the Orang Asli youth by excluding the need to pass Bahasa Melayu, History, Mathematics and one other subject in SPM.

“We are giving them a great opportunity, as long as they know how to read and write; we will offer them the right courses to study,” he said, describing the move as an incredible incentive to the Orang Asli community that is still lagging behind in various aspects.

Earlier, in his speech, Kulasegaran also gave his assurance that the Orang Asli community would be given priority in employment opportunities to reduce poverty.

During the event, he also expressed his commitment to help overcome the telecommunications problem in Kampung Kerawat by bringing up the issue to the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

- Bernama