Prof Razali
A continuous effort to reform Malaysia’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is important, says Prof Dr Razali Hassan from the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education.
The success of Budget 2025 in driving meaningful transformation within the industry depends on the synergistic approach of the Education, Higher Education, and Human Resource Ministries, he said.
“A substantial allocation towards sustained TVET transformation is necessary to ensure that the goals set by the TVET councils are achieved,” he said, adding that more funds are needed to integrate digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI)-related skills into TVET.
“This would modernise TVET, align it with future industry demands, and ensure that Malaysia’s workforce continues to be adaptable.
“Emerging technologies, particularly AI, is important in ensuring that TVET graduates remain competitive,” he said, adding that by incorporating AI-related skills into TVET programmes, students can develop competencies that are highly sought after across industries.
“This not only boosts their employability but also equips Malaysia’s workforce to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR),” he said.
In the last budget, RM100mil was allocated to provide professional certification to TVET graduates and as an incentive for the industry to collaborate with public TVET institutions.
Budget 2025, he said, should allocate funds to set global standards for the sector.
“TVET programmes must be aligned with international standards to facilitate recognition of qualifications across borders, ensuring mobility for learners,” he said, adding that the country’s TVET graduates must be on par with their global counterparts.
Prof Razali also recommended investing in more TVET programmes that encourage a wider demographic, from low income to high income communities to improve their skills and venture into new fields.
This, he added, can have far-reaching benefits.
“By offering TVET skills development to all economic segments, the initiative can promote upward mobility, and bridge the skills gap across different communities. Lower income groups would benefit from access to new job opportunities, while higher income communities can upskill or reskill to remain competitive in evolving industries,” he said.
He also stressed on the importance of allocating funds to integrate sustainability practices into TVET programmes as this would be a step towards equipping students with the skills needed for emerging green jobs.
This, he said, is in line with the Unesco-Unevoc vocational education vision on the development and implementation of green strategies to transform the learning and training environment of talents.
“By embedding sustainability into TVET, students will be better prepared to contribute to eco-friendly industries, which are becoming important globally as economies shift toward more sustainable practices,” he said.
National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei) president Assoc Prof Elajsolan Mohan said Budget 2025 should recognise TVET qualifications in the civil service.“This would inspire confidence in aspiring TVET talents and boost TVET enrolment by providing clearer career prospects in government jobs, particularly for students from underprivileged backgrounds,” he said.
