Kuala Lumpur:The RM8 billion allocation for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) under Budget 2027 is considered a progressive move that could enhance social mobility, according to Associate Professor Dr. Yasir Mohd Mustafah.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Yasir, a Mechatronics Engineering lecturer from the International Islamic University Malaysia, highlighted that the allocation aims to combine skills development with direct social benefits. This initiative is particularly targeted at tahfiz students and other-rank personnel of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) who have completed their service, aiming to boost the TVET industry and the country's economic growth.
The emphasis on these groups is expected to expand workforce employability and improve social mobility, provided they utilize opportunities post-training. Tahfiz students will have the option to engage in TVET, contributing to the country's growth in this field. Similarly, MAF personnel, some of whom are currently employed in jobs like taxi driving after early retirement, will have the chance to enhance their existing skills through offered opportunities.
The RM8 billion allocation includes provisions for short courses for tahfiz students at Community Colleges, leading to employment, entrepreneurship, and higher education. MAF personnel will receive skills training through partnerships with institutions like the Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology and the Malaysian Maritime Academy.
Dr. Yasir also suggested that the government should oversee the allocation's recipients and introduce key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure that the initiative has a substantial impact on the country. He emphasized the importance of setting KPIs based on outcomes such as job placements, rather than merely meeting a quota for training sessions.
During the tabling of Budget 2027 in Parliament, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the RM8 billion cross-ministerial allocation for TVET, aimed at enhancing skills and employability among young people. This includes RM3 billion funding for the Human Resource Development Corporation, offering three million skills training opportunities, including continuous professional development for professionals.