| Summary: | The age group of 17-19 years is considered as one of the most vulnerable and dynamic groups which if fully utilised and equipped with skills training can be developed into a skilled workforce that will contribute highly to the economic development of Sarawak. This research is focused upon a government-level problem of concern, namely the loss of school students amongst Form 5 and Form 6 (aged 17-19 years) after attaining Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) qualifications. Many fail to progress into higher learning institutions. This creates a wastage of human resources which challenges the progress towards an industrialised state, a main objective of Vision 2020. The goal is to fully develop and train this group with a Technical Vocational Education of Competency-based Education & Training (CBET) so that they can be part of the skilled workforce of the future. The main purpose of this study is to recommend how strategic modelling can evaluate policies for the progression and retention of students from secondary school education into competency based training and education. To achieve this purpose the work addresses the following research objectives: To formulate a model-based tool which can be employed in Sarawak to evaluate policies designed to maximize numbers entering vocational education who are unsuited or unable to undertake higher education; To devise and publicise a suitable model as an exemplar for other countries with similar educational policy issues; and To employ the model to design illustrative policies which show how to encourage a shift amongst the less academic achievers in Form 5 and Form 6 away from leaving the education system and promote instead a progression into Competency Based Education and Training in the vocational sector. The system dynamics methodology is applied to investigate this complex problem. The methodology is based upon feedback interrelations between the causes and effects of various contributing factors in the educational system and it will allow strategic policy actions to manage, and hopefully improve, the problem to be assessed. By conducting this study, it is expected to be able to recommend to the State of Sarawak the dynamic policies necessary for improving the quality of human resources in so far as this relates to the progression and retention of secondary school students into competency-based education and training. Recommendations will be in the form of improved policies for implementing CBET. CBET will stand as a serious relevant choice within the education mainstream. Also, it is to be supported by introducing flexible life-long learning for school leavers. This helps to create a critical mass of skilled human resources required for the future workforce of Vision 2020. Another aspect will involve enhancement of the recruitment and training system so as to recruit potential school leavers into on-the-job training schemes.
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