IN a bid to intensify technical and vocational education and training (TVET), Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested the private sector and government-linked companies (GLCs) step up their involvement and cooperation in such efforts.

He said their greater participation can meet industry needs and resolve problems such as mismatches between training benchmarks and industry requirements, as well as unsatisfactory facilities. 

“I have proposed that immediate measures be taken. We have studies and committees to ensure our children are trained for jobs that provide a reasonable income,” he told a press conference after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today. 

Anwar said, for example, Petronas could use its expertise to manage the TVET centre in Pengerang (Johor) to cater to the needs of Petronas and DRB-Hicom in Pekan (Pahang) in the automobile sector, while the Sunway and Berjaya groups could provide training in hotel, tourism, and general services. 

Groups in the business conglomerate owned by Syed Mokhtar Albukhary could also play a role in TVET or training institutions, he said. 

Anwar said the cabinet committee on TVET will take additional steps to this end, including by identifying private companies that could aid the government’s efforts. 

“This is a major decision and we have called for immediate action, apart from explaining this in the budget (revised Budget 2023) on February 24,” said Anwar, who is also finance minister.

He said the allocation for TVET according to last year’s budget was RM6.7 billion, covering various ministries, departments, agencies and 500 public skills training institutes, with a total enrolment of about 250,000 students.

He said efforts to strengthen TVET involve, among others, the Higher Education Ministry, Education Ministry, Rural and Regional Development Ministry, Youth and Sports Ministry, Human Resources Ministry, TVET programme Giatmara. – Bernama, February 2, 2023.