68% of workers only have SPM, may slip into B40, says Umno MP

68% of workers only have SPM, may slip into B40, says Umno MP

Ahmad Maslan proposes more STPM colleges and entrepreneurship programmes for secondary students.

Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan says only 32% of Malaysia’s workforce have higher than STPM qualifications.
KUALA LUMPUR:
Umno MP Ahmad Maslan said 68% of Malaysian workers possess the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or lesser qualifications and raised concerns over their growing numbers in the B40 group.

He said parliamentary replies from the human resources ministry last week stated that there are 14.2 million workers in the country.

“The ministry says only 32% of our workforce have STPM, certificate, diploma or degree. The rest – 9.5 million or 68% – have SPM or other qualifications,” Ahmad (BN-Pontian) told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said almost 500,000 Malaysians sit for the SPM every year.

“Only 150,000 of them pursue studies after SPM. The remainder have only an SPM qualification and are likely to slip into the B40 group,” he said.

He suggested that more STPM colleges be opened, and entrepreneurship programmes for students from Form 1 introduced to expose them to business skills.

Ahmad also suggested that the government reduce fuel subsidies and use the funds to open more colleges for SPM leavers.

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