KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) reforms have boosted graduate employability to 95.1 per cent, with more than 430,000 students now enrolled nationwide, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also National TVET Council (MTVET) chairman, said 53.56 per cent of the country’s secondary school leavers in 2024 chose TVET as their first option, marking a significant shift in national education trends.
“When I was entrusted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2023 to chair the National TVET Council, I knew this was more than just a policy role,“ he said when opening the ASEAN TVET Conference (ATVET) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) here today.
The reforms, he said, were anchored on integrating 12 ministries under one vision, aligning skills training with market demand and ensuring inclusivity so that no community is left behind.
This led to the development of the National TVET Policy 2030, the TVET Big Data System, the TVET MADANI Portal and the UP_TVET application system connecting students to opportunities across ministries.
He said Malaysia has also introduced new certification levels equivalent to higher education qualifications and expanded minimum wage coverage to semi-skilled and TVET graduates under MASCO Code 8 and above. – Bernama