Meeting demand for skilled talents

The Star

15-05-2025

Kelwanter is happy Tinusimha (right) is choosing early childhood education as a career.
MALAYSIA needs more skilled talents to meet growing demand in the digital economy, automation and artificial intelligence (AI), says Johor executive councillor Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The state housing and local government committee chairman said in order to achieve the goal, the country needed to produce more skilled and semi-skilled workers in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
'Many still think the TVET path is for those who have failed academically, but it is actually a smart choice for those who know what they want.
'TVET provides an opportunity to generate fast income.
'In fact, there are those who successfully become entrepreneurs two years after completing the training.
'This is a new reality, where skills are being appreciated more than certificates,' Mohd Jafni said in a media statement after launching the TVET and career carnival at Dewan Raya Putra in Kulai.
He said the carnival was a crucial initiative in shaping a future generation that not only would excel academically but also in terms of skills and competency.
'TVET not only equips students with knowledge and skills, but also hands-on industry experience and a wide career path,' he said.
He added that the employability of TVET graduates stood at 90%.
Mohd Jafni said the carnival, which aimed to support the national agenda to promote TVET, had attracted more than 1,000 job-seekers, including students and school-leavers, from all over Johor.
'This is a collaboration with over 25 government agencies and 11 private corporations, aiming to expose youths, particularly Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia candidates and recent graduates, to career and education opportunities in technical fields.
'By connecting them with education providers and industry representatives, we are able to help youths make informed decisions about their future,' he said.
Among the many visitors at the event was SMK Bandar Putra student Chang Rui En, 16, who was sent by her teacher to explore future career possibilities.
'I'm here to explore, and I'm not disappointed.
'I'm especially fascinated by the showcase of the mechanisms of traffic lights, which really gives me new insights into the mechanical field,' she said, expressing hope to see more offerings in the Arts stream at upcoming events.
Nurul Khairah Mohd Yusnizam, 17, was hoping to deepen her understanding of engineering, a field that inspired her through her father who is a mechanical engineer.
'My father encouraged me to come discover what engineering truly involves.
'I'm excited to see so many cutting-edge technologies that I can potentially explore,' said the Science stream student from SMK Bandar Putra 2.
Meanwhile, 40-year-old Kelwanter Kaur was thrilled that her daughter L. Tinusimha made the choice to start in early childhood education during the exhibition.
'We are here to explore options for my daughter and are surprised to find so many opportunities available, most of which are financially accessible to us,' she said.
At the carnival, there were exhibitions, hands-on demonstrations and interactive sessions in fields such as engineering, computing and virtual reality.