Move to upgrade SKM cert to be on par with SPM

PUTRAJAYA: A policy paper will be submitted to the Cabinet in two weeks on upgrading Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) certification to be on par with the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“It’s part of the government’s initiative in ensuring the marketability of students pursuing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in both the public and private sector.

“We are no longer working in silos but coordinating with 12 ministries, government-linked companies (GLCs) and the private sector,” he told reporters yesterday, in response to a question on the government’s plans for the nearly 30,000 eligible students who did not sit for the SPM last year.

He said that those who did not sit for the SPM would be offered TVET courses to be eligible for the SKM certificates instead.

Earlier, he launched the Madani TVET portal and also witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding between Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, GLCs and the private sector.

Ahmad Zahid said the government wanted to ensure that no one was left behind in the job market while reducing the country’s dependency on foreign labour by upskilling locals according to market demand and the students’ own interests.

Last month, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek told the Dewan Rakyat that 180,680 SPM students from the 2021 session chose not to further their education.

She said that the number comprised 48.74% of the intake.

Earlier this month, Sivakumar was quoted as saying that 40.5% of graduates are underemployed in semi-skilled and low-skilled occupations, based on the Social Security Organisation (Socso) MyFutureJobs Placement Data for 2022.

He added that these mismatched graduates are mostly employed in the services and sales group (25.7%), followed by clerical support (6.4%), as plant and machine operators (4.9%), and elementary occupations (2.4%).

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the Gig Economy Commission Malaysia would train and reskill such workers through TVET courses.

The government, he said, was committed in its efforts to facilitate suitable TVET courses for gig workers.

“When these gig workers reach a certain age, they can no longer carry out the same job.

“So, they can pursue another field which is more appropriate based on market demand via upskilling.”

Ahmad Zahid added that the growth of the gig industry was at 23% yearly involving RM52.5bil in 2021.

During the recent Umno general assembly, he said the government had agreed in principle to form the commission which is aimed at regulating the gig economy ecosystem in the country.