Monday, January 4, 2010

Developing Education, Awareness and Career Development on Construction Industry from Secondary School



Construction industry shows continuous growth in line with the Malaysia’s economic progress and improvement of lifestyle. The implementation of the five corridors regional development projects in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak will absolutely further increase construction growth rate from current 5.46% average since year 2000. Malaysian construction company activities not only take place in the country, but also at international arenas through the implementation project in building, engineering and infrastructure projects in more then 40 countries worldwide.

A serious and extensive Research and Development (R&D) in construction technology such as IBS, Modular Coordination in CIDB and other areas at all higher institutions throughout Malaysia as well as the experiences gained in real projects will also promote the Malaysia’s Construction industry into another dimension.

These positive growths and experiences are invaluable and can be of proud if appreciated fully by Malaysian, particularly among Malaysian youths in the aspect of Human Capital as promoted by current leadership as an important country’s asset. But unfortunately local youths do not favor to work in the construction industry.

According to official statistic, around 250,000 from approximately 800,000 construction personnel’s are foreigners. The reliance on foreign workers in the country’s construction industry is usually unskilled when they first arrived in Malaysia. This has impacted the productivity and quality of the construction industry. The used of unskilled foreign labor not only creates negative effects on productivity today but also in the long run. The main reason for local workforce to be reluctant to join the industry mainly because of the ‘Dirty, Dangerous, Difficult’ image perception.

In overseas, a study done by John J. Heldrich (2004), in USA reveals that survey among school students in USA about career in construction industry fall to 248 from 250 types of careers. Study in ‘Sector Studies Series for Kent & Medway’ United Kingdom (2003), also reveals that UK faces difficulty to attract youth in construction industry due to the negative image especially in the salary, work environment and future prospect. Similar perception found among youths in Malaysia where studies were done by Z.Yusof et.al. (2005), reveals that although the government of Malaysia has managed to train about 16,000 Malaysian youths a year with allocation of about RM15million a year by CIDB alone, but majority of them were not involved in construction industry. This indicates there are elements of negative perception towards construction industry among the youths.

This research aims to find out the roots of the problem, why youth are not attracted to choose work in the construction industry as their future career. The study will be by the way of information gathering on secondary school curriculum and program. The study will examine student’s perceptions, awareness and knowledge in construction industry career.

The initial study related to this research proposal predicts that there are misperception and misconception among school children about career in construction industry. Almost all schoolchildren only sees career in construction industry as general workers in construction site, whereas there are numerous types of jobs in different conditions, situations and salary scales which should make all future school leavers clearly understand.

This research will also examine the current syllabus and curriculum at secondary schools including technical and vocational schools which should be covering the general and wide spectrums of construction industry.

Among the key issue related to the wrong perception among youth towards construction industry which leads to the refusal of choosing construction industry as their career is related to perception, awareness and knowledge. The correct perception will lead towards correct worldview and will ensure the youth to support Construction Industry, thus making it a popular profession among school leavers. This will in future generate local experts and less relying on foreigners manpower.



PROBLEM STATEMENT

Problems related to the local youth involvement in the construction industry will not only fail the government’s manpower planning and construction quality improvement but also other stakeholders in the industry. Dependence on foreign workers does not benefit country in the long run but also has created many social problems in the country.

The problems identified of the low participation among locals youths in construction industry is the misconception regarding scope and image which deter youth from choosing career in construction industry. Limited and inappropriate information, reading materials and student’s guideboks on construction industry are also contributing to the above issues for their wrong perception and least preferable among young generation towards construction industry career.

The important solution to overcome problems related to the youths support in construction industry is by ways of providing comprehensive framework on awareness, education and training of construction industry.

This research will investigate in depth and identify the root of the problem associate to the above issues and looking for appropriate solutions. Comprehensive and appropriate knowledge presented to the school children pertaining construction industry as their working career will ensure that the industry and the country has sustainable local workforce in future.

Building awareness and knowledge aims to raise the young people's preference and support on the Construction Industry. Well coordinate frameworks, projects and programs through direct involvement and partnership with a number of educational agencies and schools across Malaysia is among identified strategies. Incorporating ideas stated in the Ninth Malaysia Plan (RMK9) related to the government planned in providing more flexible and opportunity for the secondary school students who are less interested in academics believed to be timely appropriate. Options given to student to choose their own subject interest in either, sports school or art schools could be extended to construction industry related areas.

Furthermore, collaboration of technical education in secondary schools with community and companies (corporate bodies) in construction industry as discussed by Kramlee Mustafa et.al (2003) can also be an interesting and promising option to create and generate better involvement among youth in construction industry.

Five strategic approaches proposed by Finch (1999) to integrate academic and vocational that is Cooperative Strategy, Curriculum Strategy, Teaching Strategy, Administrative support and professionals development are also among the interesting ideas to be analysed and discovered in this research projects.

A total of approximately 40,762 enrolments to the 56 technical schools nationwide as elaborated in the 2006 Brief Info Department of Technical Education Ministry of Education, Malaysia, will also examine in depth to find out their long term objectives and the relevancies in meeting sustainable human resource and workforce specifically in construction industry.

Addressing serious issues related to the lack of local youth involvement in current construction industry and exploring and discovering appropriate options as practical and constructive solutions will definitely crucial to ensure appropriate component in the Construction Industry Master Plan for Malaysia (2005 – 2015) be implemented successfully.


Project objectives.

To achieve the aim of the research topic that is “Developing education, awareness and career development in construction industry from secondary education”, the following objectives have been identified:-

(i) To identify and evaluate the current secondary school curriculum including curriculum in technical and vocational school as well as documents and 2006 Brief Info Department of Technical Education Ministry of Education, Malaysia and other related documents.
(ii) To identify the level of knowledge on construction industry (construction industry scope and career knowledge) among secondary school children in Malaysia. And to identify factors contributing to their knowledge and perception towards construction industry and also factors influence student’s inclination in determining their future career.
(iii) To develop framework of educational model, towards career development in construction industry for students in secondary school.


Methodology: Phase, Main Task and Explanation

Phase 1 : Literature review and developing questionnaire
Reviewing information available from researchers and documentation related to the knowledge and education received by secondary school children in the form of curriculum and co-curriculum activities. Phase 1 will also develops questionnaire to study the level of general knowledge on construction industry scope and career among secondary school children in Malaysia.

Conducting focus group workshop on school curriculum contents and program to identify current background issues.
To formulate initial framework model on students career on construction industry.
Phase 2 : Survey and analyse data collected to establish pattern of cause and effect on student’s awareness and perception.
Interviews with the students and other related people to study level of knowledge and awareness of students in construction industry. The data analysis will hopefully establish the factors and determine the degree of importance of the factors. The results obtained will form a basis for the development of the framework and awareness & education models.
Phase 3 : The development of educational framework model aiming to improve positive perception on construction industry career.
Developing framework for educational, awareness and career development in construction Industry. This will be conducted in a form of :-
(a) Examining available related framework model from other bodies and countries.
(b) Developing the framework model of secondary school career development integrating knowledge and awareness in secondary school curriculum and co-curriculum.


References
o The Construction Sector, Sector Studies Series for Kent and Medway, terbitan Learning Skill Council, Kent and Medway, United Kingdom. Issue 1-4 April 2003, Number 3 of 13,
o Yusof, Z (2005), Pembentukan Laluan Kerjaya Di Sektor Pembinaan – Strategi Mengurangkan Kebergantungan Terhadap Tenaga Kerja Asing. National Conference on Human Resource Development 2005 Anjuran Fakulti Pendidikan, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
o Construction Industry Master Plan for Malaysia (2005 – 2015) – A Report, Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan (CIDB).
o Rancangan Malaysia Ke Lapan, Bab 04 Kependudukan, Guna Tenaga dan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia.
o Kramlee Mustafa, R M Yasin, Integrasi Akademik dan Vokasional: Rasional dan Cabaran Jurnal Pendidikan 28 (2003) 77 – 90.
o Finch, C. 1999, February 2. Using professional development to meet teacher’s changing needs: What we have learned. Center Point 2: 1-14.
o 2006 brief info, Department of Technical Education Ministry of Education, Malaysia.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Geran Penyelidikan CREAM diterima

Alhamdulillah
Hari ini saya menerima surat dari CREAM CIDB mengenai tawaran untuk menjalankan penyelidikan bertajuk "Developing Education , Awareness and Career Development in Construction Industry from Secondary Education". Projek ini akan mengambil masa selama enam bulan dan kos di anggarkan RM 33,000.00 sahaja.
Semoga Allah mempermudahkan tugasan dan amanah ini.