Latest news with #MTUN
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Review cases of top SPM students denied IPT places
BAGAN DATUK: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the Ministry of Higher Education to review applications from outstanding Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students who were unsuccessful in securing a place at institutions of higher learning. He said that compassion and fairness must be shown to these students regardless of race, as they not only excelled in their examinations but are also the hope of their parents. 'For any student who did not gain admission into matriculation colleges, foundation programmes, or first-year degree courses, I hope they will be assisted in securing a place. Although I understand places are limited, they should be treated fairly, and efforts must be made to ensure they are given a place,' he said. Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, told reporters this after launching the 'Kembara Kesedaran Pendidikan Anak Desa (KeDESA) Didik MADANI 2025' programme at Politeknik Bagan Datuk today. Yesterday, it was announced that 150,557 SPM 2024 holders had received offers to continue their studies at public institutions of higher education, with 86,589 placed in public universities, 42,058 in polytechnics, 20,427 in community colleges and 1,483 in institutions under MARA's Higher Education Division. Ahmad Zahid also said he had requested the TVET Council Secretariat and the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) to consider admitting outstanding students with Malaysian Skills Certificates (SKM) Level 3 to 5 into MTUN institutions. 'For MTUN, in my view, each institution provides around 2,500 places. With six universities, that gives us 15,000 places. I hope SKM graduates who did not gain admission into public universities can submit an appeal to enter MTUN,' he said. Meanwhile, KeDESA Didik MADANI 2025 Main Committee chairman and adviser to the Bumiputera Education Movement of Malaysia, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, said the programme aims to raise awareness and provide access to higher education for students from rural and remote areas. In her speech, she said the GPBM-organised programme applies the 4M concept – identifying qualified and needy students, understanding their socio-economic background and potential, raising awareness of the importance of education, and guiding students to the right channels to further their studies. She said that in 2024, a total of 10 programmes were held across three states – Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu – with a total attendance of nearly 10,000 participants. At the same event, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk, presented awards and aid to outstanding SPM 2024 students from the Bagan Datuk constituency.
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
TVET July intake expected to hit 150,000 applications, says Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believes that the number of youths applying for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes nationwide for the July intake, which closes this June, will reach 150,000. Zahid, who is also the national TVET chairman, said this was based on the number of applications received since the intake process was centralised under the TVET Intake Unit (UP_TVET) early last month. He said that a total of 106,000 applications had been received from youths across the country between April 1 and the end of the month under the new system. Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the TVET pathway should be given due attention as a practical alternative that offers a promising future. "If they manage to reach Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3, it is already equivalent to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and can secure them a minimum salary of RM2,500," he said at the closing ceremony of the Federal Territories-level 2025 National Youth Day celebration at the Kuala Lumpur level last night. For those pursuing SKM Levels 4 and 5, Zahid added that the qualifications are recognised as equivalent to a diploma, enabling them to further their studies in higher education. "Six universities under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) accept students who have attained SKM Level 5," he said. The MTUN institutions include Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UMP). Zahid acknowledged that while the mainstream education pathway, namely SPM and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), is suited for academically inclined students, not all excel in that environment. "But some have a passion for technical fields. TVET is always ready to welcome them into its institutions," he said. To support working adults opting for TVET upskilling and reskilling, Zahid said the government has introduced a scheme to ease their transition. "We will provide a daily allowance to compensate for income loss during their training," he added. In May 2024, the UP_TVET system, developed by the Human Resources Ministry, was launched to streamline all applications for entry into TVET institutions across 12 ministries and private agencies nationwide through a single channel.
