For students who cannot afford it or who are unable to get into universities, despair not. The Human Resources and Youth and Sports Ministries provide 50 to 60 courses of various disciplines and these are avenues through which students can train to become professional workers.

These courses include electronics, robotics, computers, website designing, bricklaying and motor vehicle maintenance.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn, said that Chinese parents usually have the perception that vocational training was only for those who did poorly in their studies. That is why every year the ministry would fall short of the target from non-Malay participation. Less than 5% of the total students in local vocational schools are Chinese.

There are provate programmes that students can go for. He said, ?but we want them to know that government programmes are equally good.?