Vocational College Applications Surge To 58,263 Amid Rising TVET Interest

KUCHING, April 18 (Bernama) -- Applications for admission to vocational colleges have risen sharply to 58,263 this year compared with 28,098 in 2022, reflecting growing student interest in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a future career pathway, said Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the development reflects a shift in public perception towards skills-based education, which is now gaining greater acceptance in the national education system.

“This shows that choosing TVET today is no longer an alternative, but a smart step towards becoming professionals needed by the industry.

“This is in line with the aspiration of the National TVET Policy 2030, which aims to make TVET the main career choice. Society is beginning to realise that TVET is now the backbone of the workforce,” he said.

He said this when officiating at the 10th Ministry of Education Vocational College Convocation Ceremony 2025 for the Sarawak Zone at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here today.

Fadillah said the intake capacity for vocational colleges this year is 17,912 students, far lower than the number of applications received.

He added that since the introduction of vocational college convocations in 2016, a total of 103,902 graduates have been produced, surpassing the target of 90,000 graduates set under the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

Fadillah said TVET graduates play an important role in meeting future workforce demands, particularly in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy and the green economy.

“In the era of the Industrial Revolution 5.0, which emphasises collaboration between humans and technology, adaptability is key to surviving the challenges of today’s industry.

“The skills you acquire in vocational colleges are continuously enhanced to align with global industry standards. However, this knowledge must always be kept up to date,” he said.

At the event, 874 graduates from six vocational colleges across Sarawak, who completed 15 diploma programmes, received their scrolls.

-- BERNAMA