Kinabatangan: The participation of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes is projected to increase from 57.4 percent this year to 65 percent by the end of next year. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized that TVET is now viewed as a primary choice for education rather than a fallback for those who do not excel academically.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Chairman of the National TVET Council, highlighted the promising prospects for TVET graduates, noting that holders of Malaysian Skills Certificates Levels one to three can expect starting salaries of RM2,500. He underscored the employability of TVET graduates, stating that 98.7 percent of students from institutions under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) secure jobs before completing their courses.

As the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Ahmad Zahid also pointed out that while the national TVET marketability rate stands at 95.1 percent, MARA boasts a rate of 98.7 percent, and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Training Institute (IBM) under the Ministry of Works achieves a full 100 percent marketability rate.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted the significant presence of TVET courses in higher education, with six universities offering such programs: Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Selangor (Unisel), and Universiti Malaysia Perlis. He reassured parents that choosing TVET for their children’s education is a wise decision.

Ahmad Zahid also mentioned the extensive range of TVET institutions and courses available, with 1,398 institutions offering over 4,500 courses, including advanced areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and electric vehicles (EV).

Additionally, steps have been taken to integrate TVET education with religious schooling. Ahmad Zahid cited UniKL’s initiative, where 750 students from traditional religious school backgrounds are currently enrolled in specialized programs in the Faculty of Aerospace and the Faculty of Marine Engineering.