PASIR MAS, July 6 — Applications to join Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes have increased by 3.75 per cent from January to June this year, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also National TVET Council chairman, said this rise shows that the perception and assumption that TVET is for dropouts is not true, but instead, can become a primary career for youth.
He said the government has made significant investments to provide various infrastructure and facilities to ensure the TVET mainstreaming agenda is realised.
“There are now 1,345 public and private TVET institutions nationwide.
“Youth inclined in technical pedagogy who have completed their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia can join TVET programmes from the certificate level, to diploma, and up to the highest levels,” he said.
He said this to reporters after officiating the Madani 1.0 Youth Career and Sports Carnival at SK Sultan Ibrahim 1 here today.
“TVET should be considered an educational pathway that can be chosen by anyone based on their interests and inclinations,” he said.
He said the employment rate for TVET graduates is high, reaching 94.5 per cent, as most employers look to reduce dependence on foreign workers, especially in the dirty, dangerous and difficult sector.
Commenting on applications from the Orang Asli community for TVET programmes, Zahid said the government aims for 400 Orang Asli youth to gain entry into TVET centres this year.
“Last year, around 350 Orang Asli joined TVET programmes, indicating this community is proactive in participating in TVET. I will establish a special entry scheme into TVET courses for Orang Asli,” he said.
On May 30, Zahid was reported as saying 220 China firms offered 5,125 places for Malaysian students to undergo short-, medium- and long-term TVET training, which will be a game changer in boosting the TVET industry in Malaysia.
This offer resulted from a collaboration between the National Skilled Workers Organisation (Belia Mahir) and TVET-related firms in China, namely, Beifang Automotive Education Group and Tang (M) International Education Group, under a memorandum of understanding.
— Bernama
