TVET masterplan in the works

All smiles: Najib posing for a group photo during his visit to an aviation hangar during the launch of the TVET Transformation Programme in Shah Alam.

SHAH ALAM: The Government will develop a comprehensive technical and vocational education and training (TVET) masterplan which will be managed by the Human Resources Ministry with the assistance of the relevant ministries, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Initiatives implemented to push the transformation of TVET in the country include the allocation of 30% of the Human Resources Deve­lopment Fund (HRDF) levy, by Pem­bangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB), as a pool fund to implement strategic programmes.

This is aimed at achieving national goals to increase the percentage of skilled workers in Malaysia.

“In line with the aspirations and vision of the National Transfor­mation 2050 or TN50, the Govern­ment has, through PSMB, allocated RM50mil from 30% of HRDF’s funds for TVET,” Najib said at the launch of the TVET Transformation Prog­ramme at the Advanced Technology Training Centre here yesterday.

He also announced that the TVET Programme had been renamed TVET Malaysia.

He said special emphasis would be given to Industry 4.0 to establish a workforce that is able to be competitive globally.

(Industry 4.0 is the term used to describe the use of automation and data exchange in industrial technologies, including the Internet of things.)

To support the Industry 4.0 Revolution, said Najib, close cooperation would be forged with skills development institutions, polytechnics, universities and employer associations with an allocation of RM75mil.

He added that given that TVET transformation was a game changer in increasing competitiveness and improving the calibre of the workforce and the nation’s economic development, the Govern­ment was committed to ensuring that TVET was implemented effectively.

This would firstly be done by acknowledging TVET as the third core in the 11th Malaysia Plan to elevate human resources development and making TVET transformation a focus area.

“Secondly, we will prepare and implement TVET transformation to face the new challanges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and emergence of the Digital Economy, which is dubbed by many as the industry of the future,” said Najib.

He said the Government had set up an Industry 4.0 human capital committee which would be jointly chaired by the Human Resources Ministry and Higher Education Ministry.

Najib also said the TVET prog­ramme would be introduced at tahfiz schools for the students to be kept in tandem with the national development programme.

“We will introduce TVET to tahfiz students in addition to learning the Quran for them to be equipped with the best skills,’’ he added.

Also at the event were Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology founder Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing.