There are vast employment opportunities which offer lucrative salaries for graduates in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), said former Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) vice-chancellor chairman Prof Tan Sri Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar.

He said there was high demand for TVET graduates from industries.

"There are numerous job opportunities waiting and the salaries are also quite lucrative because skills-based workforce is needed by the country which is heading towards becoming a developed nation," he told Bernama recently.

He said he was disappointed that some parents looked down on the benefits offered at TVET institutions and were more obsessed with getting their children into academic courses in universities.

"These parents feel that it would shame the family if their children go to TVET institutions, which they think are of lower standard than universities, despite these (TVET) institutions offering skilled training which are needed by companies," he added.

As such, Sahol Hamid, who is chairman of Destini Anak Bangsa Foundation's Board of Trustees, said Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers should be encouraged to opt for TVET programmes and courses.

He also urged unemployed graduates to go for TVET courses to improve their chances of getting a job.

He said it had been proven that TVET graduates were more marketable as 98 per cent of TVET graduates were able to secure jobs upon graduation, compared with only 60 per cent among university graduates.

Meanwhile, GiatMara deputy chairman Datuk Armand Azha Abu Hanifah said graduates should have realistic goals and to seek additional skills through the TVET courses which were being offered.

"Several unemployed graduates and professionals are undergoing TVET courses at GiatMara nationwide because they realise that these skills are in demand at the moment," he said. -- Bernama