TVET Commission Established To Strengthen Skills Ecosystem - DPM Ahmad Zahid

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The government today agreed to establish the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Commission to strengthen institutional regulation, coordinate and monitor strategies and create a more systematic, focused and responsive TVET ecosystem.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision was reached during the second meeting of the National TVET Council (MTVET) 2025, which he chaired today.

He said the proposal to establish the TVET Commission stemmed from a series of discussions, including the KEB 2024 retreat, the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) document, as well as previous MTVET meetings.

“The TVET Commission will serve as a dedicated entity functioning as the main regulatory body for TVET in Malaysia,” he said in a statement today.

Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs MTVET, said the commission will operate as a single regulatory body tasked with formulating national TVET policies and strategies.

The commission will also oversee the registration of TVET institutions, skill standards, centralised student intake and big data management; monitor institutional performance; evaluate programme outcomes; and recommend interventions and improvements to central agencies.

“The establishment of the TVET Commission is aligned with the government’s aspiration to position TVET as a premier choice for education and career pathways, producing a highly skilled workforce that meets industry needs and contributes to national economic growth.

“A series of townhall sessions and stakeholder engagements with industry players will be held over the next six months to ensure the commission’s establishment is realised,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid reiterated the government’s commitment to making TVET a mainstream education pathway in national development, not just an alternative route, but a driver of an economy based on skills, innovation and high productivity.

He said new enrolments in TVET programmes increased to 212,022 in 2024 compared to 175,780 in 2023.

“I believe the success of TVET requires tripartite cooperation between the government, TVET institutions and industry to ensure that curricula, training methods and trainer competencies remain relevant to market demands,” he said.

He said TVET graduates must also be equipped with strategic skills in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data centre management, cybersecurity and electric vehicles (EVs).

“I hope all parties will work together to drive these initiatives.

“This MTVET meeting has clearly outlined the direction to position Malaysia as a regional TVET hub by 2030, in line with the Malaysia MADANI aspiration,” he said.

-- BERNAMA