Kuala lumpur: The National TVET Council (MTVET) has approved the formation of an interim committee dedicated to the TVET Big Data initiative, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. This decision was made during a meeting held to discuss the future of TVET in Malaysia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the interim committee is designed to act as a central national coordination body. Ahmad Zahid, who chairs MTVET, emphasized the importance of this committee following the success of the TVET Big Data project under the 12th Malaysia Plan. This project successfully integrated data from 12 different ministries into a cohesive national TVET reference database.
Ahmad Zahid stated that the committee will oversee the systematic and integrated governance of data collection, updates, and sharing, all in line with national standards. This move is expected to enable the government to make data-driven decisions in various areas of TVET planning, including course coordination, labor market projections, curriculum development, talent mapping, and policy formulation.
Furthermore, the interim committee will ensure the progress of the second phase of the TVET Big Data development, which is part of the 13th Malaysia Plan. This phase aims to develop a national TVET analytics system to enhance monitoring efficiency and improve practical outcomes.
The meeting also recognized the TVET Tahfiz programme’s accomplishments, which are being bolstered through the Hi-TVET initiative. This program is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (JPPKK), central agencies, industry partners, and Islamic educational institutions. Ahmad Zahid noted that this program significantly enhances the employability of tahfiz students, with notable achievements such as victory at WorldSkills ASEAN 2025 and the expansion of techno-huffaz initiatives. It has secured ongoing support, including a RM5 million allocation for 2025.
Ahmad Zahid highlighted the success of the Malaysian Prison TVET, which has positively impacted inmate rehabilitation, training over 19,000 participants since 2012. He pointed out that both domestic and international recognition, along with the new Skills for Prospect (S4P) model, underscore TVET’s role in social empowerment.
He also reported on the achievements of GiatMARA’s TVET Tahfiz Empowerment Programme and Gig Industry Worker Skills Programme. These initiatives have surpassed participation targets, increased participant income, and expanded training access through mobile units, projected to benefit over 11,000 participants by 2027.
In conclusion, Ahmad Zahid affirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to elevating TVET as a national agenda that spans ministries, regions, and societies. He expressed confidence that with an integrated, data-driven, and future-oriented approach, the national TVET ecosystem will be strengthened, fostering a competitive, skilled workforce to drive Malaysia toward becoming an advanced, skill-based economy.