KUALA LANGAT: An immediate allocation of RM200mil will be channeled to fortify Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses to cater to investors’ needs, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said this was in addition to the RM8bil already spent on TVET courses as the country needs such a shift in education and skilling.
He said that the additional funds are needed to train 13,000 TVET students in fields such as energy transition, technological and digital-based industries, high-powered electronics as well as farming.
Anwar announced this while officiating the National TVET Day at the Kuala Langat Industrial Training Institute here Saturday (June 8).
He also said that while Malaysia has to ensure the shift towards TVET moves fast, TVET students should not be merely skilled workers but also perfected in values so that they will enter the workforce as good human beings.
“The funding would encourage TVET institutes to develop programmes in line with the government’s wishes to solidify high growth value sectors and industries, in accordance with the National Energy Transition Roadmap and the National Industrial Master Plan 2030,” said Anwar.
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He said that this would also create skilled job opportunities as needed by the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
Anwar also said that the mindset that TVET is for academic failures and for those nowhere else to go must be changed as has happened in Japan and Germany where upskilling and reskilling courses are in demand for school-leavers.
“The country has to make a shift as nearly RM8bil has been allocated for TVET - the highest allocation of its kind in history. By the end of this year, with additional allocations, it will cross RM8bil.
“In Germany, parents and students have an interest in arts, culture, philosophy, mathematics and science.
But there are students who prefer to go into craftsmanship and aviation - and they are channeled towards that without abandoning the basic education such as language and as such.
“Students who are interested in electronics, digital and aerospace are given opportunities.
“For example, the village children who are not academically inclined but they are excellent in coding surpassing those who excel academically. It would be our loss if such children who are good in coding are not channeled into computerisation and digital courses.
“This is why the country feels there is a need for a shift for TVET. Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid has aggressively promoted TVET and I support his proposals to introduce more programmes for TVET courses,” said Anwar.
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Earlier, in his welcome speech, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid had proposed for an additional budget to fortify TVET courses to cater certain specialisations and certain groups of minority students.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, is the chairman of the TVET National Council.
In his speech, Anwar further stated that big foreign companies such as automaker Geely of China have praised the quality of Malaysian engineers but stressed that they need to be upskilled with the right teaching force.
“This is why 300 of our engineers are now being trained in China,” said Anwar.
He also pointed out that while foreign investments from giant companies such Microsoft, Nvidia and Google was due to stable politics, ready skilled workers is also one of the attracting factors.
“We (Malaysia) have been a semiconductor hub for the region for Germany, US and China. Of the global semiconductor chips supply, 25% comes from Malaysia. Boeing would not be flying if it does not get the parts produced by TVET-trained workers here,” said Anwar.
He stressed that most of the new foreign and domestic investments are in energy and oil and gas industries.
“The challenge is to prepare the skilled workers in newer and specialised fields,” said Anwar.
The event which was attended by thousands of TVET students also saw the attendance of ministers and deputy ministers.
Also in attendance was Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
