BUDGET 2026: TVET STRENGTHENED THROUGH RM7.9 BLN ALLOCATION - AHMAD ZAHID

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The increased allocation of RM7.9 billion for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes under Budget 2026 reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s pool of highly skilled workers, especially from rural areas, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the National TVET Council, said the funds would be channelled to 12 ministries involved in the TVET ecosystem, including institutions under the Education Ministry (MOE) and the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW).

“Some RM1.3 billion is earmarked for vocational schools and colleges under the MOE. At present, 439,000 students are enrolled in 1,398 TVET institutions nationwide operated by federal and state agencies as well as private institutions,” he said on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara: Merealisasikan Belanjawan 2026 programme last night.

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2026 on Oct 10, announced the RM7.9 billion allocation, up from RM7.5 billion this year, to train more local talent for high-growth industries and priority sectors.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said 54.3 per cent of secondary school leavers are now pursuing TVET studies, a positive trend for Malaysia’s technical workforce.

He also dismissed claims that TVET graduates face limited job opportunities, noting that their employability rate has reached 95.1 per cent at the national level.

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“For MARA (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) institutions, the rate stands at 98.7 per cent, while CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board) has achieved 100 per cent. TVET graduates also earn higher starting salaries, averaging RM2,500 compared to RM1,700 for academic graduates,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said that demand for skilled labour continues to grow, driven by the needs of foreign and domestic investors in high-technology sectors.

He added that the government is expanding TVET access to tahfiz and pondok students, allowing them to pursue skill-based training under the Malaysian Skills Certification (SKM) Level 3 to 5.

Those who attain SKM Level 5 qualify to further their studies at technical universities under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN), with starting salaries of around RM3,500, he said.

According to Ahmad Zahid, tahfiz students’ strong memories and discipline make them valuable assets in technical fields.

“At Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), which focuses on aerospace, tahfiz students have shown outstanding performance in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO),” he said.

He added that similar success stories can be seen in UniKL’s maritime faculty, which has produced highly capable TVET graduates with better job prospects compared to graduates from other institutions.

-- BERNAMA