Kolej INPENS provides opportunities for poor students to receive vocational education

Selangor State Government will provide vocational training to poor students through the International College INPENS (Industri Perindustrian Negeri Selangor) in order to equip students from poor families with affordable vocational and technical trainings.

Due to the growing demands for skillfully trained vocational workers, INPENS was established in 1993 as an institution to compliment the formal education.

Here I would like to thank the group of 19 volunteers who had organize the "Wow Day! @ Kidzania Kuala Lumpur" event and they have led a total of 17 children and adolescents from the Association of Child Welfare of Life Spring Hill Sentosa, Rawang to visit Kidzania during these Deepavali holidays.

I was informed from these 19 volunteers that the children who are less fortunate will be having greater career to guarantee their bright future if they are given the option to receive vocational education.

Apart from furthering their studies at any institution of higher education, students who do not have excellent SPM results but are interested in vocational field can actually pursue their studies in INPENS.

In 2011, Selangor State Government has contributed RM1, 532.700 to cover the entry fees of 234 new students in INPENS to cover their academic, hostel fees and living expenses.

This contribution was given to 101 Malay students, 100 Indians and 33 Chinese students to pursue vocational courses in automotive mechanics, electrical wiring, air conditioners, computers, beauty and hair styling for the period of 1 to 3 years. In addition, the state government also provides assistance to the children of plantation workers to continue their vocational education at INPENS.

By providing opportunities to formal vocational trainings skills, these students will have special skills that enable them to get decent jobs with better salaries once they complete course. Workers with vocational skills will be highly needed for employment and as a result this will ensure a better income for these poor students.

Stable job with good income will therefore indirectly improve their families' financial status of those students who mainly hail from low-income families. Therefore, the objective of Selangor state government to reduce poverty of people in Selangor will be achieved.

Other benefits including:

• International College INPENS not impose any racial quotas;
• Tuition fees are much cheaper than private colleges which offer the same courses, and
• All vocational courses recognized by Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK) Malaysia and outstanding students will be awarded Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) by JPK, Ministry of Human Resources. For example INPENS wireman course conducted in accordance with the Electricity Act and Regulations) and the certificate is issued by the Energy Commission. Successful students will be awarded a Certificate of Electrical Wiring Single Phase with Endorsement Test (PW2).
• INPENS College has good working relations with several large companies such as Proton, Perodua, Toyota and the Institute of the Motor Industry (M) of the United Kingdom.

Those who are interested can visit the website at http://www.inpens.edu.my INPENS where application forms can also be downloaded from the website. My service center will help anyone who is interested.

Lau Weng San