PUTRAJAYA, June 5 — The government is targeting at least 650,000 students to enrol in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes at 1,395 TVET institutions nationwide by December 31 this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the target follows a significant rise in student participation in TVET, which is increasingly becoming a preferred education and career pathway among parents and students.

“Last year, about 587,000 students enrolled in TVET institutions, compared with around 121,000 when the TVET Council was first established.

“This shows growing recognition among parents and students about TVET, and the fivefold increase in enrolment is a very positive achievement,” he told reporters after visiting the exhibition site for the 2026 National TVET Day celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National TVET Council Committee, said the event is being held from today until June 7 to showcase high-quality TVET to students at institutions nationwide as well as prospective applicants.

He said the approach is important to meet labour market demand, particularly in developing skilled local workers to meet industry needs.

“We must meet labour market demand in the TVET sector, particularly in producing skilled workers for industries that need Malaysian talent, and this will in turn help raise the starting salaries of TVET graduates,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the government is also aiming for TVET to become a first-choice pathway for students, even as academic routes through public and private higher education institutions continue to be strengthened, stressing that the current focus is to meet the actual needs of the labour market nationwide.

National TVET Day 2026, themed “TVET Pilihan Utama Kerjaya” (TVET as the Preferred Career Choice), is expected to draw 500,000 visitors, featuring a range of programmes that give visitors the chance to explore six main hubs: TVET and industry engagement, seminars, a career carnival, entrepreneurship, TVET challenges, and educational entertainment.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate at the highlight of the event tomorrow, underscoring the government’s continued commitment to developing a highly skilled workforce. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, June 4 — The National TVET Council (MTVET) Meeting No. 2/2026 today focused on strengthening agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a strategic agenda to support the development of the agro-food sector and enhance national food security.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in a statement, said the meeting, which he chaired, also reviewed several strategic initiatives to reinforce the country’s TVET ecosystem, particularly in sectors that are key drivers of economic growth and national development.

According to him, special attention was given to talent development in the agro-food sector amid challenges facing agricultural TVET, including issues related to graduate employability, the availability of high-skilled jobs and mismatches between graduates’ skills and industry requirements.

“The meeting took note of findings presented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), which highlighted the need to strengthen talent development efforts to improve productivity, innovation and competitiveness in the agro-food sector,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development.

He said the matter has significant implications for food security, human capital development and the nation’s economic growth.

As such, he proposed that the issue be elevated to the Cabinet through the preparation of a Cabinet Memorandum to enable the government to consider more comprehensive and integrated policy measures.

The meeting also took note of the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB) Construction TVET Implementation Plan 2026–2030, which is designed to transform the construction training ecosystem through stronger governance, wider adoption of digital technologies, enhanced career pathways and closer collaboration with industry stakeholders.

Ahmad Zahid said the initiative would help develop a highly skilled and competent workforce capable of adapting to rapid technological advancements, including digitalisation, automation and innovation within the construction sector.

“This initiative will not only address the industry’s demand for local skilled workers but also strengthen the competitiveness of Malaysia’s construction sector at both the regional and global levels,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid, who is National TVET Council chairman, said the meeting was briefed on preparations for the National TVET Day 2026 celebration, which will take place over three days beginning tomorrow at Dataran Putrajaya under the theme “TVET the Main Career Choice”.

The event is expected to attract more than 500,000 visitors and will serve as a platform to showcase TVET’s role in developing a future-ready workforce and promoting skills-based careers among Malaysians.

Ahmad Zahid reaffirmed the government’s commitment to positioning TVET as a key national agenda for producing highly skilled human capital through close collaboration between government agencies, industry players and training institutions.

“I am confident that through strong cooperation among the government, industry and training institutions, TVET will continue to produce competent, innovative and competitive talent capable of driving the nation’s progress,” he said. — Bernama