National TVET Policy aims to provide skilled labour for country’s job market needs

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy, set to be launched in June, has a crucial goal of providing skilled labour for the country’s workforce needs in emerging technology fields.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi described the policy, which outlines a roadmap until 2050, as comprehensive and that it not only coordinates 1,345 TVET institutions but also involves the provision and enhancement of high-technologybased courses for this purpose.

“We must move beyond merely providing skilled labour in traditional fields such as sewing or hairdressing. While those courses can continue, the job market requires skilled workers in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), solar energy, electric vehicles, communications and hydrogen,” he told Bernama at the Parliament lobby here.

Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the National TVET Council Committee, hopes the policy will change the perception of some segments of society, particularly parents, who view TVET as a secondary option, despite the vast potential of the field. Currently, the employability rate of TVET graduates stands at 92.7 per cent.

TVET graduates also have the opportunity to further their education at higher levels, including at the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) such as Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). — Bernama