TVET Training Gives Inmates Second Chance To Rebuild Lives

By Ahmad Aidil Syukri Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The process of rehabilitation behind bars is no longer focused solely on discipline and character building, but has now been strengthened with skills training to ensure inmates can build meaningful lives after their release.

In line with the government’s aspiration to produce a professional and highly skilled workforce, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been introduced for inmates to support the implementation of the National TVET Policy 2030.

National TVET Council Secretariat head Dr Azmir Mohd Yunus said the policy emphasised inclusivity and equal opportunity for all segments of society, including vulnerable groups such as inmates, tahfiz students, gig workers, and individuals undergoing drug rehabilitation at Serenti centres.

“Through the National TVET Policy 2030, we aim to ensure that all groups of society, including those in prisons or rehabilitation centres, are given the opportunity to gain skills that can help them rebuild their lives,” he told Bernama.

The National TVET Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, coordinates the implementation of TVET policies, strategies, and initiatives nationwide, involving 12 ministries and various implementing agencies.

Azmir said the council’s coordination role was vital to avoid overlapping functions and ensure optimal use of resources, particularly as the country has more than 1,398 TVET institutions — 673 public, 697 private and 28 under state governments — requiring clear direction.

He said the inclusive approach also enabled departments such as the Malaysian Prisons Department to collaborate with TVET agencies including the Department of Skills Development (JPK), GiatMARA, polytechnics and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to implement training within prisons.

“The success of prison-based TVET depends on policy and implementation synergy, with the ultimate goal of ensuring trained ex-inmates are accepted by industries through employment opportunities, allowing them to contribute positively to the economy,” he said.

He added that the council was ready to support the expansion of skills programmes in rehabilitation and prison institutions through the adaptation of training to current needs such as digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI), including connecting the Prisons Department with expert institutions for new fields of training.

Azmir said the council remained committed to strengthening the overall TVET ecosystem to ensure no group was left behind in building a new life.

“We hope society understands that those who have made mistakes also deserve a second chance. With skills and support, they can become valuable contributors to the nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prisons Commissioner-General Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Razak said the TVET approach not only empowered inmates through skills training but also changed public perception towards them.

He said that since 2012, more than 19,000 inmates had received the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) or Prison Skills Certificate (SKP), marking the success of the programme under the Prison Industrial Vocational Centres (PVIP) nationwide.

Abdul Aziz said the implementation of TVET training in prisons had had a significant impact on reducing recidivism, as its goal was to help inmates be seen not as offenders but as individuals with potential to improve and contribute back to society.

“Participants of TVET and community rehabilitation programmes record a recidivism rate below 0.3 per cent — far lower than the international rate of around 20 per cent. However, among those who do not undergo skills training, the rate can reach up to 12 per cent,” he said.

According to Abdul Aziz, besides strengthening technical skills, prison TVET programmes also incorporated spiritual elements through the Prison Tahfiz Programme, currently implemented at 14 institutions with nearly 300 participants.

He said the combination of skills training and spiritual guidance provided to inmates behind bars made the rehabilitation process more holistic.

“The tahfiz programme provides peace of mind, while TVET provides the strength to live. When both are combined, they produce individuals with stronger character and resilience,” he said.

However, Abdul Aziz said true rehabilitation success could only be achieved when society was ready to accept inmates back as productive members of the community.

-- BERNAMA