PUTRAJAYA: A new accreditation body akin to the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) is being established to elevate technical and vocational education and training (TVET) qualifications, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the chairman of TVET National Council said such a body is needed because MQA focuses too much on academics and the Skills Development Department (JPK) focuses only on skills.
He also made it clear that such a body will not disrupt MQA or the JPK accreditation, as this new body will only be assessing the TVET qualifications.
“The MQA under the Higher Education Ministry focuses on the academic field. The JPK in the Human Resources Ministry focuses on skills.
“Therefore, since we have 1,395 TVET institutions, the best approach is to have accreditation carried out by a dedicated body without disrupting the processes currently conducted by MQA and JPK,” he said after launching the Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body (GITC) TVET Placement Centre (GTPC) here yesterday.
The centre was officiated in conjunction with National TVET Day 2026.
Ahmad Zahid said such an approach aligns with the standards adopted by several developed countries, which have a separate accreditation body that Malaysia can emulate.
“I discussed this with the director-general and the secretary-general of the Higher Education Ministry just now. We have submitted the proposal and will follow up with MQA and JPK regarding this new body.
“The personnel are already in place. It only requires separating their responsibilities specifically for technical subjects.
“Due to foreign direct investment (FDI), we now have a very strong demand for a technical workforce. We need to engage directly with these investors so that the courses offered are aligned with what they require, rather than us creating courses based on what we think is needed,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech at the event, Ahmad Zahid said that GTPC is a collaborative platform established to bridge the gap between industry needs and the education provided by TVET institutions.
“TVET enrolment in the country has increased from nearly 350,000 students in 2020 to more than 450,000 students last year. More encouragingly, almost 57% of SPM graduates and equivalent school leavers in 2025 are now choosing the TVET pathway. The employability rate of TVET graduates has also reached 95.9%.
“The GTPC will act as a national bridge between talent and industry,” he added.
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai, in his welcoming speech, said that industrial training and education industries can no longer operate in silos.
“Industry cannot move forward on its own. Training institutions cannot design curricula without industry input. And the government cannot formulate policies without understanding the realities on the ground.
“GTPC also plays a vital role in addressing the mismatch between industry needs and workforce skills.
“Through an industry-driven approach, GITC ensures more accurate mapping between employer demand and talent development,” he said.
