The government plans to send more students abroad to pursue studies in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to strengthen the local TVET sector.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this is part of the government’s transformation in TVET, aimed at changing the perception that those pursuing such studies are academically disadvantaged.
“Although TVET has been around since before Independence, efforts from previous governments were not focused.
“We want to change the perception of parents and society so they know this field promises good employment and careers,” he said at a meet-and-greet session with 70 Malaysian students studying in Japan today.
Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman, said the government is considering increasing the cost of living allowance for students pursuing TVET abroad, including in Japan.
To strengthen the country’s TVET sector, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is on a seven-day working visit to Japan starting yesterday, said the government also intends to transform Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) into the main TVET university in Malaysia.
He added the country’s new direction for TVET would be announced on June 2 in conjunction with National TVET Day.
Accompanying Zahid on the working visit are Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
