The Present and Future of Malaysian Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

Abstract

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is the key to technical advancement, rapid industrialization, wealth generation, and poverty reduction. TVET is vital for preparing individuals for the workforce and enhancing their employability, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related careers. This conceptual paper aims to determine the present and the future of Malaysian technical and vocational education and training (TVET). We review literature on the Malaysian technical and vocational education and training (TVET) throughout Malaysia and show that a clearer understanding and the needs of current and future Malaysian TVET. The Malaysian government has invested heavily in TVET, making it one of the most developed TVET systems in Southeast Asia. However, there are still a major gap between TVET Malaysia and other developed countries. The major challenges TVET in Malaysia are various providers, negative perception of vocational education, curriculum under revise, lack of matching training to available jobs and limited collaboration between TVET institutions and industries. Despite the fact that substantial efforts have been made to strengthen TVET in Malaysia, there is still more work to be done to address the challenges facing the sector.

Employability challenges of vocational college graduates in the state of Johor

“…The 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia expressed his intention to target 35% of Vocational College (VC) graduates who are highly skilled and competent in skills for the development of Malaysia's rapidly developing industrial economy by 2030 through the strategic plan Wawasan Kemakmuran Bersama (WKB) (S. M. Amin et al, 2023). (Shahzad et al, 2023) claims that the globalization era has changed the industrial sector in Malaysia and presented a challenge where employers in the industry must employ a skilled and competent workforce because the industrial age now emphasizes highly sophisticated and advanced technological systems like automation robotics in line with Malaysia's ongoing IR 4.0 development.…”