Thus, if MET colleges do not attempt to reinforce positive values on
the students, there is the danger that negative influences will take hold - rebellious,
social rejection, drinking, drugs, etc. Since students spend a considerable period of
their young adulthood in college, those responsible for MET should not concentrate only on
imparting knowledge and skills, and disregard attitudes and values. Of greater concern
would be direct entrants and those undergoing a short period of pre-sea training - how
will the aspects of attitudes and values be addressed? In a shipboard environment, the
only source and prolonged influence will be from members of the ship's crew!
Additionally, the syllabus used in many countries reflect almost
entirely the aspects of safety with little or no emphasis on management or commercial
subjects which are very important today if ships are to be economically and efficiently
run and safety procedures effectively carried out. More relevant and appropriate subjects
will therefore need to be included.
Similarly, the industry. ashore require people with a broader knowledge
of the maritime field. The gradual shift of global shipping operations from the
traditional centres in Europe to the East, notably to Hong Kong and Singapore, present new
opportunities to the local industry. Therefore, to take advantage of these developments,
Malaysia needs to upgrade its human resources for the maritime industry.
Due to the way ships are being operated today, college-based training
has assumed greater importance in supplementing the lost opportunities for the all
important onboard training.
Although results of inquiries on accidents continue to reveal human
error to be the major cause, there is no evidence so far to suggest that it is linked to
any particular group or nationality. Hence, if ships crewed by apparently well-qualified
and trained officers
