MELAKA: Malaysia has become the first Asean country to offer accreditation recognition for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), marking a major step forward in harmonising skills certification across member nations, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the initiative was agreed upon during a meeting with ministers and senior officials from the region, aimed at aligning and coordinating accreditation standards.
“We have held meetings with ministers and senior officials from all Asean member states to ensure that accreditation for the TVET industry can be standardised and we have reached a consensus.
“Malaysia will take the lead as the first nation to offer this form of accreditation for acceptance throughout Asean,” he told a press conference at the Asean TVET Council 4th Regional Policy Dialogue yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said the government is currently aligning TVET courses with the evolving needs of industry players to ensure their continued relevance and to make them a preferred option for students pursuing higher education.
“We hope this will continue to shift the mindset of parents, who previously regarded TVET courses as a last resort for their children,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister touched on the need for Asean to bridge the skills gap by promoting industry-driven, demand-based training programmes.
He emphasised the importance of shaping a regional talent pipeline aligned with the needs of factories, plantations and emerging green industries.
To achieve this, he said, industries must co-develop training modules, share apprenticeship opportunities and open up cross-border job prospects.
“We must also develop TVET as a comprehensive ecosystem by aligning education, industry, infrastructure, certification and digital access, all guided by data,” he said.
As Asean Chair this year, Ahmad Zahid reiterated Malaysia’s readiness to coordinate and lead the way.
“We propose the formalisation of Malaysia as the Asean TVET certification and excellence hub. We look forward to the full support of all member states in making this a shared regional legacy,” he said.
He added that TVET is no longer peripheral but is central to national economic strategies.
“In this global race for relevance, skills are the new currency. Malaysia is not only championing skills development but also laying the foundation for Asean to emerge as a TVET powerhouse.
“Let us work together to ensure TVET remains accessible, relevant and future-proof for all. Let us commit to building an Asean where no talent is left untapped and no community left behind,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will officiate the National TVET Day 2025 celebration today.
