The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has been asking the Government for many years to set up a single champion agency to coordinate the implementation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country. So, the TVET Empowerment Committee’s recommendation is appropriate and a long awaited decision.

The Government should expedite the establishment of the Special Commission to address fragmentation of TVET implementation, which currently cuts across seven Ministries. The single champion agency should ensure standardisation of training and qualifications, quality assurance, qualification portability, recognition of prior learning and greater cost effectiveness in the use of resources. The Commission should also uplift the status of TVET graduates as skilled craftsman and promote TVET as a viable education and career of choice to students and parents.

Joint oversight by the Ministries of Education and Human Resources could provide seamless transition of support programmes and policies from schools to working adults. TVET should be introduced into the school curriculum as early as at primary level to nurture interest and uplift the status of technical and vocational qualifications as vital in strengthening the supply of skills and ensuring a competent workforce.

It is also necessary to upskill and reskill the current workforce and to reinforce lifelong learning to continually acquire new and emerging skills set required by new technologies such as Industry 4.0. TVET training institutions need to be able to offer upskilling and reskilling programmes to produce highly-skilled and digital-proficient workers to support the industrial transformation of the economy. 

Funding of TVET institutions must be based on performance and aligned to market demand to mandate collaboration with industry. The Special Commission should rationalise and optimise funding and resources to minimise over-duplication of programmes among TVET institutions.