Selangor: If previously the vocational field was viewed as a second choice, today the current job landscape in the country has changed, showing a significant shift as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) emerges as a strategic career path and a top choice, aligning with current industry needs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this is driven by the increasing demand from the industry for skilled labour, particularly in critical sectors such as aircraft and vehicle maintenance, which not only requires theoretical knowledge but also demands specific technical skills and complex practical training. Ahmad Zulhisham Abdul Wahab, an aviation division lecturer and quality manager at Advance Technology Training Centre (ADTEC) Shah Alam, noted the rising employability rate of TVET graduates, demonstrating the field's growing relevance and necessity in the job market.
'Based on ADTEC records, nearly 99 per cent of graduates secure employment within a short period after graduation. More impressively, based on the excellent track record of graduates in the industry, large companies have already started 'locking in' students as early as their fifth and sixth semesters before they even graduate," he said, speaking to Bernama at ADTEC Shah Alam in Selangor recently.
Ahmad Zulhisham highlighted that the TVET education module encompasses comprehensive training. Students in fields like maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), especially aircraft maintenance, receive both theoretical and hands-on training. 'Practical training using various types of real aircraft and helicopters gives students an advantage in understanding the real work environment, thus increasing their level of preparedness when they enter the workforce,' he explained.
TVET students have the opportunity to obtain multiple certifications during their three-year study period. These include a Diploma in Technology from the Department of Human Resources, a Malaysian Skills Diploma Level Four from the Department of Skills Development, and an Aircraft Maintenance Technician Category A licence recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). According to Ahmad Zulhisham, career opportunities for TVET graduates are expansive, with possibilities to advance to engineering roles or serve in security sectors like the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysia Police.
Dr. Siti Norhafiza Abdul Razak, deputy dean of Student Development and Campus Lifestyle at Universiti Kuala Lumpur-Malaysia France Institute (UniKL MFI), addressed the persistent stigma surrounding TVET as a 'second-class' option. She pointed out the 99.7 per cent employability rate of UniKL graduates within three to six months of graduation as evidence of the high demand for TVET skills in the industry.
She encouraged Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) graduates with a penchant for practical skills to consider TVET as their primary career path, not just for job security but also to enhance their quality of life and social mobility. 'We need to reject the perception that TVET is low-class or that skills like welding are only suitable for small jobs,' she stated, highlighting the high demand for skilled welders in sectors like oil and gas.
Mohammad Rizan Hassan, president of the National Organisation of Skilled Workers (BELIA MAHIR) and member of the National TVET Council, pointed out that lingering perceptions of TVET as inferior hinder the development of local technical talent. He emphasized that this misperception contributes to a reliance on foreign workers and the underutilization of local youth with high practical skills.
Mohammad Rizan stressed that policies like the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) can only succeed if practically applied through TVET training aligned with industry demands. He highlighted the need for the TVET system to evolve with global technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, automation, and green energy, while offering flexible skills upgrading for the workforce.