Tvet and upskilling: Solution to address phenomenon of 'lost men'

SEREMBAN – Former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has warned that the country is facing a 'lost men' generation, with the majority of universities now dominated by women.

She said this trend was likely to lead to more men being forced to take up low-paying jobs in the gig economy or to pursue careers in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) industry.

“And when they finish their studies, who do you think enjoys higher wages? Surely, it will be the women,” she said during the Wanita Question Time forum here last night.

Nurul, who is also a PKR vice-president said this would eventually lead to a crisis, which would have an impact on marriage and other aspects of society.

She called on parents to play a vital role in ensuring their sons stay in school and take advantage of the numerous support programmes provided by the government.

“The government not only provides support for TVET programmes, but also has numerous upskilling programmes which can help working adults better themselves,” she said.

Nurul said it was important for men to seize these opportunities to enhance themselves and change for the better.

“This would not only be good for them, but also have a positive impact on their families and the nation as a whole.”

Meanwhile, Wanita PKR chief Fadhlina Sidek said even today, women still faced sexist remarks and double standards in politics.

Fadhlina, who is also the Education Minister and Nibong Tebal MP said it is important for women politicians to have a supportive ecosystem to counter the constant undermining that women leaders face about their abilities.

“We must have allies, especially an ecosystem of women politicians who can be our comrades. Without this, it becomes very challenging for us to navigate through life as a woman in politics,” she added.