TVET: Driving the economy, empowering future generations

SEREMBAN - The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme is the best platform for youth to acquire relevant technical skills thus opening up more competitive career opportunities.

In Malaysia, TVET implementation is led by a total of 1,398 public skill institutions across 12 ministries, state and private skill institutions, that offer programmes in a specific field.

In line with the increasing demand for a highly skilled workforce, TVET has become the main choice in providing high-value job opportunities through various programmes, especially the Malaysia-China Youth TVET (MCYTT) programme.

Belia Mahir Project founder, Mohammad Rizan Hassan, said TVET is recognised as a significant and strategic platform in providing youth with the technical skills that are much needed by the industry, thereby giving them an edge in the job market.

"Our students have the opportunity to attend TVET training in China through MCYTT if they meet the requirements. Since 2023, a total of 376 students who followed the programme, managed to enter the industry in 36 local and international companies including those accepted to work in China.

"This collaboration is in line with the aspirations of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as Chairman of the National TVET Council (MTVET), who wants to make TVET a culture and lifestyle, especially among the younger generation," he told Bernama when met at the Youth Development Centre in Rasah Jaya, here.

The Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) under the MYCTT programme also paves the way for free TVET education and training in China to support Malaysia in developing local skilled talent.

A total of 220 Chinese companies offer 5,125 quotas to Malaysian students to undergo short, medium and long term TVET training, thus becoming a game changer in boosting the TVET industry in Malaysia. The government aims to send more than 5,000 TVET students to the country by 2025.

This initiative clearly shows that TVET applies a variety of specific skill sets to meet the needs of a competent workforce based on quality technology as well as meet the demand in various industrial sectors, thereby offering lucrative income and shaping a better future.

Mohammad Rizan said that apart from Belia Mahir, there are 56 other strategic partners offering TVET programmes at private skills institutions to help young people obtain the Malaysian Skills Certification (SKM) five levels of authentication.

He said TVET not only opens up more job opportunities, but is able to meet the needs of the increasingly challenging job market, thereby strengthening the national economy through a competent and competitive workforce.

A former Henry Gurney School student, Mohammad Rizan said his determination to change pushed him to succeed even though he did not have any higher education certificate.

"I entered Henry Gurney School when I was 16 to serve a three-year sentence, and was released in my early 20s. I didn't have any school certificates.

"During my detention, I took advantage of the time to learn skills. After my release, I had the opportunity to work at a Japanese-owned company in Johor Bahru as a production operator, and with dedication and discipline, I was offered to take up skills training and work in Japan for several years,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Belia Mahir trainer, R. Neshan, 28, said the government's efforts to elevate TVET is a right direction because domestic and foreign demand for skilled workforce is constantly increasing.

Neshan had the opportunity to attend TVET training twice at Yantai Vocational College in China, focusing on the manufacture of electric vehicles (EVs), now gaining popularity.

Meanwhile, student, Nimrod Jezreel Ortiz Balellio, 19, said he is grateful to be given the opportunity to follow the TVET programme in the automotive field of electric vehicles (EV) for almost two weeks in China.

Nimrod said through this valuable experience he is able to further develop his potential in the automotive field and share his knowledge with his friends here.

"While in China, we learned a lot, including how to handle car repairs. We were taught various techniques by professional instructors there," said Nimrod who hails from Tawau, Sabah. - BERNAMA