PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed to establish a single accreditation body for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes this year.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move aimed to streamline all TVET courses offered by various institutions based on industry demands while bolstering the sector.
"I acknowledge the existence of numerous agencies and TVET providers offering programmes at various levels, all with the shared objective of producing skilled and competent individuals to meet market demands and stakeholder needs.
"In light of this, we agreed to establish TVET's sole accreditation body under the 12th Malaysia Plan to establish a uniform rating mechanism for assessing programme quality.
"It will consider holistic indicators, including success elements such as employability and industry engagement," he told reporters after chairing the National TVET Council meeting.
Previously, TVET certifications were accredited by two regulatory agencies: the Skills Development Department and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)
The new single accreditation system will be introduced with collaboration from MQA and the Labour Department.
Zahid said the move was crucial to tailor all TVET courses according to industry demands.
"Unlike in the past, TVET syllabi were crafted based on what the institutions could offer, henceforth the changes will be dictated by industry demands, steering clear of mismatches and misalignments in courses that don't resonate with industry needs.
"Our focus will be specifically on high-tech domains, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) within the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, involving futuristic technologies such as EVs (electric vehicles) signifying a higher level than existing technologies."
Zahid added that securing professional recognition for TVET graduates will create additional avenues for public and private sector employers to provide employment packages that align with the government's commitment to empowering this group.
"Thus, the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT) will function as the professional body for accrediting technological and technical professionals and will persist in aiding and bolstering the national TVET ecosystem.
"This commitment ensures that the technological and technical services delivered by TVET graduates adhere to standards that precisely meet industry needs," he said.
Zahid said the government, via the Education Ministry, will enhance the entry policy into TVET institutions, shifting it from post-Form 5 to post-Form 3.
This change, set to take effect in March, aims to promote the cultivation of skilled workers from an earlier stage, responding to the growing demand from the industry.
He said the enrollment in TVET institutions for June and September this year has also increased to 134,000 registrations, compared to 67,000 in the previous year.
On a related matter, Zahid also announced that China has offered Malaysian students the opportunity to pursue further education in TVET institutions there.
"We have been offered over 2,000 placements for (Malaysian) students, reflecting confidence in the belief that the quality of TVET graduates in our country meets their minimum qualifications.
"This highlights the recognition accorded to graduates from TVET institutions in China.
"I hope that the Malaysia China Institute (MCI) can be established and overseen by the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) through UniKL (Universiti Kuala Lumpur) to enable TVET students in our country to gain expertise developed by China."