ASSESSING THE NEED FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CURRICULUM IN TVET INSTITUTIONS: PERSPECTIVES OF INSTRUCTORS AND INDUSTRY

Abstract

Occupational safety and health are critical aspects of skills training and are sometimes overlooked in technical education curricula. This study explores the new curriculum requirements for occupational health and safety modules in skills training programs in Malaysia, specifically GIATMARA. The mixed approach used involved the needs analysis of 269 teaching staffs in the first phase of the study, as well as the Fuzzy Delphi technique involving 12 experts in the second phase of the study. The needs analysis data shows that there is a gap in the existing safety module, and there is a need for a safety and health curriculum for GIATMARA trainees. At the same time, the Fuzzy Delphi analysis that uses an acceptance value of more than 75 per cent found that there are five main components required in the safety and health curriculum for skills programs, namely safety motivation, safety training, safety communication, safety rules and procedures, and safety knowledge. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the need for a more flexible and inclusive curriculum development strategy, taking into account global skills needs, technology integration, and the active involvement of stakeholders in skills education. The findings of this study can be used as a guide in forming occupational health and safety modules in Malaysian skill institutions, especially GIATMARA.