KUALA LUMPUR: A new initiative that will see nearly 400,000 educators trained in artificial intelligence (AI) applications has been announced as part of a move to modernise Malaysia’s teaching force.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the programme, titled “AI for Educators”, will be implemented in collaboration with the Education Ministry.
Involving 395,000 educators, the programme aims not only to equip teachers with technical AI skills but also to deepen their understanding of ethical considerations in using such technologies in the classroom.
“Our teachers are the frontliners in human capital development.
“They must be empowered with the latest knowledge and tools to prepare our people for the challenges of the AI era.
“This reflects not only the commitment of the Human Resources Ministry but also the wider commitment of the Madani government to ensuring our educators lead the way,” he said in his speech at the National Training Week (NTW) 2025 summit in Bukit Jalil here yesterday.
Sim also revealed that this year’s NTW had surpassed all expectations with over two million Malaysians participating in the free training sessions, double the initial target of one million.
“This is the third year we are organising the NTW and it has grown in scale and impact.
“Last year, we reached around 300,000 participants. This year, we’ve gone beyond our target even during the launch week,” he added.
According to Sim, over 71,000 free training sessions were offered across the country, with more than 40% of them focused on Industry 4.0-related skills, including digital tools, automation and emerging technologies.
He also extended an invitation to citizens from across Asean, saying that this year’s NTW was open not just to Malaysians but also to participants from neighbouring countries, a move in line with Malaysia’s role as Asean Chair this year.
“This is our commitment to building regional human capital and strengthening cooperation in a rapidly evolving economic landscape,” he said.
