KUCHING: Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) is calling on Sarawakians, including those in the rural areas, to join them in their journey to becoming the first private vocational college in the state.


Baharudin holds a poster with the diploma course details at the press conference.

Its executive director Datuk Baharudin Abdullah made this call during a press conference yesterday, saying the setting up of PPKS Private Vocational College was aimed at helping the government in producing a competent work force and experts in technical and vocational fields.

“This is an upgrade of vocational secondary schools, which offer two years of SPMV, while vocational college offers a Malaysian Vocational Diploma after a four-year study.

“Those who apply will have qualifications exceeding Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) with accreditation from Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA), Skills Development Department (JPK) as well as the Malaysian Examination Board,” Baharudin told reporters at PPKS headquarters in Tabuan Jaya.

He said the college would be offering a diploma course in Electrical Power Generation for the time being, with ‘Farming and Manufacturing’ as well as ‘Robotics’ courses due to be applied in 2015.

“The Electrical Power Generation course will train students in the electrical industry, such as installation, maintenance and repair of high voltage electrical tools and sources.

“They will also be supplied with additional skills so that they can enter the job market in power generating plants both in the country and overseas. The syllabus will be mostly the same as other vocational colleges, but it will come with additional subjects such as solar and wind technology, turbine concept as well as hydroelectric.”

Baharudin said 50 students would be taken in per intake and applicants must be Malaysians who have sat for Peperiksaan Menengah Rendah (PMR) in 2013 with at least a ‘B’ in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mathematics, Science and Living Skill.

“Applicants must also be healthy, free from chronic sickness and not colour-blind. The diploma course is targeted at male students, but female students are free to apply.

“Applicants with grade ‘C’ in the aforementioned subjects can also make a plea. As the intake is rather limited, we will really choose to ensure a quality intake.”

The study fee is free as PPKSPVC is backed by the government, while facilities such as boarding and food will be provided for the students.

Members of the public and students interested to be pioneers of PPKSPVC first intake on Aug 25 are advised to apply online at http://www.moe.gov.my today, while offers may be made on Aug 21, or call 082-365970, 082-364252 or 082-364253 for further enquiries.