The National Vocational Training Council (MLVK) programmes envisaged under the Human Resources Ministry have a good rational and if implemented wholeheartedly and without bias, the not-so-well-endowed students from the schools, especially from the rural areas will benefit tremendously.

Despite the proclaimed ideals that had prompted some educationists to venture into the setting up of training centres, the actual processes in motion at the Ministry of Human Resources do not seem to measure up to the avowed intention.

After some experimentation in giving out skills training loans that have benefitted quite a number of unscrupulous 'training centre operators' approved by the ministry, now it has formed a skills training loan scheme, supposedly in the mould of PTPTN (higher education loan fund).

But the arbitrary rules that have been imposed by the manager of the scheme clearly shows that the ministry is not keen to encourage the genuine training providers, but is more keen to soothe the political followers who have been given the licence to operate.

The Vocational Skills Loan Fund should be given to poor students as long as they have chosen an approved MLVK course, as the student must repay it when he/she completes the training and is employed. Students who are well-trained according to the National Occupational Skills Standards will almost certainly find jobs easily.

The manager of the fund has unilaterally decided the courses in each of the approved centres that will get the loans and the maximum number of students who will get the loans. This means that not all the approved courses in a centre will be eligible for loans and as there is a ceiling on the number of students eligible for loans. Not all the students enrolled in the courses that are approved for loans will qualify for the loans.

Centres that have had a good record in running the MLVK courses face problems as not all the students who wish to enrol in their centre will get loans. And the students may have to move to other less successful centres just to get the loans! This 'engineering' by the manager of the fund - surely with the blessings of the Minister of Human Resources - does not take into consideration the investment of the genuine training providers, and the plight of the students.

Students should be able to apply for any approved course at any of the approved centres; and if a particular course is not needed by the industries anymore, the authorities should take steps to withdraw the approval accordingly. After all, the students are the ones who will repay the loan, and they must be able to train in the centre of their choice. The important aspect is that there are very few other avenues of financial aid for these students.

The loan fund manager at the ministry has been bold to tell those who were unhappy with the decisions of the ministry to close their centres if they are unhappy. Actually, the Ministry of Human Resources should appreciate those training providers who have continued to provide their services even through the difficult times when loans were not forthcoming.

It is high time that the Skills Development Loan Fund is made available to all needy students pursuing the approved MLVK courses in approved centres in the country.