KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2025 shows the government's clear commitment to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to ensure that the local workforce is ready to face future industry challenges, says Yayasan Mahir Malaysia president Datuk P. Sri Ganes.
He said the government’s move to offer matching grants of RM50mil for industries that participate in the "Adopt a Public Skills Training Institution" programme was a smart initiative to attract more private sector participation in education and training.
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However, he stressed that such initiatives needed to be expanded to achieve a bigger and better impact on labour development.
"I hope the private sector will not only act as a partner but take on a major role in drafting the curriculum, preparing training facilities and helping to guide TVET graduates to be more prepared to enter the workforce,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Oct 20).
Sri Ganes said such efforts would ensure a more effective result in reducing the gap between the education system and industry needs and drive the development of a more competitive national workforce.
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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a rise in TVET allocation from RM6.8bil to RM7.5bil when tabling Budget 2025 on Friday (Oct 18).
On the Budget, Sri Ganes said a bigger allocation would be best focused on direct intervention through greater public-private partnerships.
"This intervention can bring better results, such as the rise in worker marketability and skills development that is relevant to the innovation and high technology sectors,” he said.
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He also said the government should focus more on public-private partnerships to develop talent and technology by reducing allocations that were too large, as well as less impactful operating expenditures.
"With this approach, we can ensure a Budget that not only manages the maintenance aspect but can serve as a catalyst to a wider and more meaningful change in the national economy and human capital development,” he added. – Bernama
