Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved an additional RM200 million allocation for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, which will be distributed next month, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the National TVET Committee, stated that the allocation will be distributed based on the courses offered, coinciding with the first intake of TVET students for this year. The additional funding is set to focus on key areas such as electric vehicles, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, electronic technology, farm mechanisation, agricultural automation, and livestock farming.
He expressed hope that this allocation would enable technical training in industries such as palm oil to begin next month, given that the necessary infrastructure is already in place. His comments came after the opening ceremony of the National TVET Day 2024 celebration at the Kuala Langat Industrial Training Institute (ILP).
Earlier at the event, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the government’s approval of the RM200 million allocation aimed at strengthening and boosting youth participation in TVET fields. This funding will be channelled through the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) to encourage TVET institutions to develop and empower training programmes that align with current industry needs.
Ahmad Zahid also noted that several international companies are ready to offer higher starting salaries to TVET graduates, recognizing the demand for skilled workers from these institutions. He highlighted that discussions with various international companies revealed a willingness to pay a minimum salary of over RM4,000 (US$1,000). Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with these firms to ensure training is tailored to their specific needs, thereby preventing job mismatches and redundancies.
He was responding to the Malaysian Employers Federation’s (MEF) Salary Survey for Executives 2023, which involved 262 private companies. The survey revealed that only 39.6 percent of employers currently hire TVET graduates, indicating a low level of awareness and acceptance among private employers regarding the value of TVET graduates.
Despite this, the government remains committed to increasing the involvement of private employers in recruiting TVET graduates. The additional funding and collaboration with international companies are expected to address these challenges, ensuring that TVET graduates are well-prepared and highly valued in the job market.
The initiatives announced on June 8 aim to enhance the skills and employability of TVET students, providing them with opportunities to contribute effectively to various high-demand industries, thereby boosting Malaysia's economic growth and development.
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