Latest news with #NationalTVETCouncil
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
KEB: Govt urged to draft act to strengthen TVET ecosystem
PUTRAJAYA: The government has been urged to draft an act to streamline and strengthen the country's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the proposal was among the key recommendations presented during today's retreat to mark the first anniversary of the Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB). He said the proposed new act would coordinate all 12 ministries involved in implementing the country's TVET agenda, allowing it to become the new national education ecosystem. Ahmad Zahid said the retreat also wanted to upgrade the National TVET Council to a commission that can bolster the coordination of the TVET ecosystem. 'This commission would not be a new entity requiring additional civil servants or large allocations, but would instead coordinate and optimise existing functions in a more focused manner,' he said. In 2021, the National TVET Council was established to enhance coordination of the country's TVET ecosystem and drive progress in the sector, which has been elevated as a national agenda. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the KEB's head of the Education Reform and Human Capital Cluster, Prof Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali, has been appointed to lead the Bumiputera Economic Data Centre and Dashboard. He said the initiative will be placed under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy through the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU). When asked about the government's efforts to ensure TVET graduates receive decent wages, Ahmad Zahid said the government remains committed to securing premium salaries of between RM3,500 and RM5,000 for TVET graduates, particularly for holders of the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Levels 3 to 5, through ongoing engagement with industry players. 'We advocate for premium salaries for TVET graduates; we do not impose on companies to pay these wages but engage with the industry to encourage them. 'We (the government) not only have memoranda of understanding but also memoranda of agreement with the industry,' he said. He was commenting on a study conducted by the Malaysia Labour Market Insight Series, which reported that over 65 per cent of degree holders in the country earn a monthly salary below RM3,000 — an amount considered just enough to get by, leaving little room for savings, investment, or move up the social economic ladder.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Govt urged to draft act to streamline national TVET system
PUTRAJAYA: The government has been urged to draft an act to streamline and strengthen the country's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the proposal was among the key recommendations presented during today's retreat to mark the first anniversary of the Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB). He said the proposed new act would coordinate all 12 ministries involved in implementing the country's TVET agenda, allowing it to become the new national education ecosystem. Ahmad Zahid said the retreat also wanted to upgrade the National TVET Council to a commission that can bolster the coordination of the TVET ecosystem. 'This commission would not be a new entity requiring additional civil servants or large allocations, but would instead coordinate and optimise existing functions in a more focused manner,' he said. In 2021, the National TVET Council was established to enhance coordination of the country's TVET ecosystem and drive progress in the sector, which has been elevated as a national agenda. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the KEB's head of the Education Reform and Human Capital Cluster, Prof Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali, has been appointed to lead the Bumiputera Economic Data Centre and Dashboard. He said the initiative will be placed under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy through the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU). When asked about the government's efforts to ensure TVET graduates receive decent wages, Ahmad Zahid said the government remains committed to securing premium salaries of between RM3,500 and RM5,000 for TVET graduates, particularly for holders of the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Levels 3 to 5, through ongoing engagement with industry players. 'We advocate for premium salaries for TVET graduates; we do not impose on companies to pay these wages but engage with the industry to encourage them. 'We (the government) not only have memoranda of understanding but also memoranda of agreement with the industry,' he said. He was commenting on a study conducted by the Malaysia Labour Market Insight Series, which reported that over 65 per cent of degree holders in the country earn a monthly salary below RM3,000 — an amount considered just enough to get by, leaving little room for savings, investment, or move up the social economic ladder.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt urged to enact TVET Act to establish new education ecosystem
PUTRAJAYA: The government has been urged to enact a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act to ensure the effective establishment of a new education ecosystem. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the proposal for the legislation was put forward by delegates during the One-Year Retreat Session following the 2024 Bumiputera Economic Congress. "Among the proposals is the drafting of a TVET Act, aimed at ensuring that a new education ecosystem can be effectively implemented through coordination across all 12 ministries involved in TVET," he told reporters after the session. Zahid added that the Bumiputera Economic Congress also proposed upgrading the National TVET Council through the establishment of a dedicated TVET Commission. The commission, he said, will be responsible for coordinating and optimising the existing functions of the Council in a more focused and streamlined manner. "This commission will not involve the creation of a new agency requiring additional civil service personnel or new financial allocations," he said. Meanwhile, Zahid, who also chairs the National TVET Council, said the government will continue to champion efforts to ensure TVET graduates receive competitive, premium-level salaries. His comments follow the release of a study titled "The 'Gaji Cukup Makan' Economy: When Higher Education Becomes an Economic Risk", conducted under the Malaysia Labour Market Insight Series. He added that while the government does not impose salary levels, strategic engagements with industry players have produced meaningful outcomes for TVET graduates. "We engage directly with employers, many of whom have formal agreements with us, both memoranda of agreement (MoAs) and memoranda of understanding (MoUs), committing to pay TVET graduates not the minimum wage, but salaries that reflect their skills and relevance to the job market," he said. He added that many of these companies also offer internship opportunities before graduation and donate industry-grade equipment to TVET institutions, helping students better prepare for the workforce. "As a result, most of these companies have agreed to offer premium salaries compared to other academic qualifications. "So far, Malaysian Skills Certificates (SKM) Level 3 graduates are starting on salaries of around RM3,500, while those with Level 5 qualifications can earn approximately RM5,000," he said. The study revealed that over 65 per cent of degree holders in Malaysia earn less than RM3,000 a month, a figure sufficient only to cover basic necessities, with little room to save, invest, or move up the socioeconomic ladder.
Malay Mail
19-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Zahid: Over 100,000 youth applications for TVET as government ramps up skills training efforts
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — A total of 106,000 applications have been received from youths nationwide to join Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses since the intake process was centralised under the TVET Intake Unit (UPTVET) beginning early last month. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the number was expected to rise to at least 150,000 applications by the end of June, reflecting the effectiveness of the new approach. Ahmad Zahid said not all youths excelled academically, so the TVET pathway should be given due attention as a practical alternative that promised a bright future. 'If they manage to reach the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3 (SKM-3), it is already equivalent to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and can secure them a minimum salary of RM2,500. In fact, SKM-4 and SKM-5 are equivalent to diploma-level qualifications,' he said during the closing ceremony of the Federal Territory-level 2025 National Youth Day celebration here tonight, which was also attended by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National TVET Council, said that six universities were ready to offer TVET courses, namely Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Selangor (Unisel), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). Meanwhile, the Minister of Rural and Regional Development said that besides youth enrolment in these institutions, the government was also focusing on assisting 1.16 million youths in the e-hailing, p-hailing and creative industries. He said many of them possessed talent but lacked formal qualifications, and if they remained in these sectors without upskilling, their productivity might decline by the age of 40. 'For their future, the government is offering reskilling and upskilling programmes in TVET fields so they can enhance their skills and income. A daily allowance will also be provided to ease the financial impact during the training period,' he said. In addition, Ahmad Zahid voiced concern over the rate of fatal crashes involving youths, noting that 90 per cent of the 6,000 deaths recorded annually involved this group, which must be urgently addressed. 'If this continues, we will lose a productive labour force among the youth. As chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety, I want the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) and respective state youth councils (MBNs) to organise special motorcycling courses for young riders, including on safety and maintenance,' he said. He also urged the creation of other special programmes for youths not affiliated with any associations, to ensure they were not left out of development efforts. Ahmad Zahid also agreed that several special initiatives be implemented for youths in the Federal Territory, including free e-sports courses at UniKL, TVET programmes in the electric vehicle (EV) automotive field, and green technology-based programmes for urban youth. — Bernama
Barnama
18-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Over 100,000 Applications For TVET Institutions Received Since April
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) -- A total of 106,000 applications have been received from youths nationwide to join Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses since the intake process was centralised under the TVET Intake Unit (UPTVET) beginning early last month. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the number was expected to rise to at least 150,000 applications by the end of June, reflecting the effectiveness of the new approach. Ahmad Zahid said not all youths excelled academically, so the TVET pathway should be given due attention as a practical alternative that promised a bright future. 'If they manage to reach the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3 (SKM-3), it is already equivalent to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and can secure them a minimum salary of RM2,500. In fact, SKM-4 and SKM-5 are equivalent to diploma-level qualifications,' he said during the closing ceremony of the Federal Territory-level 2025 National Youth Day celebration here tonight, which was also attended by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National TVET Council, said that six universities were ready to offer TVET courses, namely Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Selangor (Unisel), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). Meanwhile, the Minister of Rural and Regional Development said that besides youth enrolment in these institutions, the government was also focusing on assisting 1.16 million youths in the e-hailing, p-hailing and creative industries. He said many of them possessed talent but lacked formal qualifications, and if they remained in these sectors without upskilling, their productivity might decline by the age of 40. 'For their future, the government is offering reskilling and upskilling programmes in TVET fields so they can enhance their skills and income. A daily allowance will also be provided to ease the financial impact during the training period,' he said. In addition, Ahmad Zahid voiced concern over the rate of fatal crashes involving youths, noting that 90 per cent of the 6,000 deaths recorded annually involved this group, which must be urgently addressed.
