PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry has proposed that the Malaysian Skills Certification System (SPKM) be used as the country’s single certification for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Its minister V. Sivakumar said the move was necessary due to confusion in the implementation of TVET in Malaysia, which was caused by the existence of various TVET certifications accredited by two regulatory agencies, namely the Skills Development Department and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
In this regard, he said it was appropriate that the SPKM, which is based on the National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS) under the regulation of the Skills Development Department, was designated the single national TVET certification for all level one to five TVET programmes in the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF).
“The standardisation of level one to five TVET programmes, based on SPKM in MQF, will be a new platform in empowering the country’s TVET,” he said when speaking at the ministry’s New Year 2023 mandate assembly here yesterday.
In the meantime, Sivakumar said the Manpower Department needed to re-evaluate the courses offered to meet the current needs of the industry so that there was no mismatch syndrome, Bernama reported.
“The courses offered need to be improved with digitalisation, automation and other elements which are in line with the needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0),” he added.
On Thursday, Sivakumar, in a statement, said the Cabinet meeting on Dec 7 had made a decision to transfer the function of the secretariat of the National TVET Council to his ministry.
It was previously placed under the Higher Education Ministry.
Following the Cabinet’s decision, Sivakumar said his ministry would use the opportunity to improve and dignify the image of TVET in the country.
“The ministry needs to lead the initiative to give a new image to TVET so that it is no longer seen as a second or alternative choice,” he said.
At the ceremony yesterday, Sivakumar also announced the ministry’s Strategic Plan 2023-2025, which includes five strategic cores: Skilled Human Capital Empowerment; Labour Market Strengthening; Health and Social Welfare Rights; Strengthening Law Enforcement and Compliance; and Strengthening and Empowering Governance.
