Putrajaya: A total of 270 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) have recorded an impressive graduate employability rate of 99.5 per cent, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. This achievement underscores the pivotal role of MARA's TVET institutions in the nation's advancing TVET agenda, which has now transitioned into the TVET 2.0 phase.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid expressed his appreciation for the private sector's support in TVET initiatives nationwide. Their contributions include the introduction of new training modules and the provision of equipment, machinery, and other essential facilities for selected TVET institutions. Agreements with the National TVET Council and most TVET institutions across the country aim to ensure that all TVET students are absorbed into the workforce, achieving 100 per cent employment in the industry.
The National TVET Day 2026 celebration, where these announcements were made, took place at Dataran Putrajaya. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the launch of TVET 2.0, which emphasizes emerging high-demand fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and renewable energy while reinforcing conventional sectors.
Ahmad Zahid, also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, highlighted the initiative of sending TVET instructors abroad for training, fully funded by overseas industry players, to ensure they acquire the latest knowledge and skills. TVET graduates are being offered competitive salaries, with Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) holders earning a starting salary above the current minimum wage.
The employability rate for TVET graduates nationwide rose to 98.7 per cent by the end of May this year, a notable increase from 95.1 per cent previously. Ahmad Zahid emphasized the ongoing challenge of sustaining and building on this success, noting the government's commitment to enhancing TVET offerings.
In an inclusive move, students from tahfiz institutions and pondok schools are now being offered opportunities to pursue TVET programmes in fields such as aerospace and maritime engineering through courses at Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL). This initiative aims to produce highly skilled professionals among tahfiz students while maintaining their foundation in religious studies.
Seven universities within the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) provide pathways for TVET students to further their education to master's and doctoral levels. To support these initiatives, the government has allocated RM7.9 billion to the TVET sector under Budget 2026, marking the largest allocation ever for TVET 2.0 implementation, including upskilling and reskilling programmes.
The National TVET Day 2026 celebration, organized on a large scale yet with efficient resource management, runs for three days under the theme 'TVET Pilihan Utama Kerjaya' (TVET: The Preferred Career Path). It features participation from more than 107 agencies, institutions, and industry players from nine key sectors, including aerospace, electronics, agriculture, and energy.