Putrajaya: Introducing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) from primary and secondary school levels lays a solid foundation for nurturing a generation that is both competent and attuned to industry needs. Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Corporate) of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Prof Ts Dr Kamal Yusoh, emphasized the importance of early exposure to TVET in fostering its recognition as a mainstream education pathway, breaking the stigma of it being viewed as a second-choice option.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kamal highlighted that this approach offers students contextual and meaningful learning experiences that mirror real-world scenarios. He stated that this aligns with the future economy's needs, which demand a highly skilled, technologically literate workforce capable of adapting to ever-changing environments.
Kamal further explained that by building a solid foundation of skills from school, students would be better positioned to continue their studies or enter the workforce, while the initiative could help reduce dropouts and open up broader career opportunities. He proposed introducing TVET to primary school students in a fun and interactive manner, helping them develop basic skills in areas like simple material creation, basic carpentry, introductory robotics, and creative recycling.
He elaborated that TVET at the lower secondary level can be enhanced by focusing on technological and practical skills, such as basic programming, digital design, simple automation, smart agriculture, and early exposure to engineering, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. At the upper secondary level, TVET can focus on more specialized areas closer to the working world, like basic mechatronics, application development, green technology, culinary, product design, or technical maintenance.
However, Kamal noted that the country still lacks trained TVET teachers, with most existing teachers remaining more focused on theory than on practical industry experience needed for effective skills teaching. Training and skills development opportunities for TVET teachers are limited due to time constraints, workload, and financial allocations, leaving some teachers behind in technological knowledge and current industry practices.
He added that schools should have well-equipped and safe workshops, laboratories, and workspaces tailored to the TVET courses offered, so students can experience a learning environment similar to actual workplaces.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Massila Kamalrudin advocated for promoting TVET as the nation's strategic pathway to produce a highly skilled workforce that is both future-ready and relevant to industry. She pointed out the urgent need in critical fields like artificial intelligence (AI), applied AI, advanced manufacturing, and aerospace and emphasized the importance of universities building curricula focused on real-world applications to prepare graduates to lead changes in the new job ecosystem.
Massila also highlighted that universities must act as problem solvers for both industry and society, producing innovations applicable to technology, products, and services, while delivering social benefits guided by ethics and human values.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced during the launch of the National Education Blueprint 2026-2035 in Putrajaya on Monday that the Ministry of Education Malaysia would introduce TVET to primary and secondary school students through the school curriculum starting in 2027. He stated that this initiative would allow students in Years One to Six and Forms One to Three to gain exposure and have the opportunity to choose their majors at an earlier stage.