Budget 2024: Malaysia ramps up TVET education and skill enhancement

by SHAUQI WAHAB / pic TMR FILE

IN a forward-thinking approach to education and skill development, Malaysia is placing a strong emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Budget 2024.

Technical skills are becoming even more sought after, hence the need to be promoted to Malaysians to cultivate a nation of skillful professionals.

The government has addressed this issue by allocating RM6.8 billion to revamp TVET education through collaboration with Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) and private companies.

Universiti Malaya Consultancy Center deputy director Dr Azni Zarina Taha believed that the public-private partnership towards TVET curriculum development is critical to ensure that all TVET graduates are industry-ready.

She opined that the collaboration promotes many benefits such as exposure for students to understand industry issues, challenges, and demands, being able to use equipment that the university does not provide, as well as the industry gaining access to high-quality research work from the universities.

“It will also help create better optimisation of final year projects, internships, and research projects,” she told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR).

In the coming year, RM100 million will be allocated to provide industry-recognised professional certification to TVET graduates.

Meanwhile, the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) will provide education loans to 12,000 trainees following the Skills Certification Programme, with an allocation of RM180 million.

Additionally, RM20 million is reserved for trainees in the maritime field, art at Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara), and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) for the aerospace sector.

The budget also allocates RM17 million for the implementation of the TVET Tahfiz Programme, which enables Tahfiz students to diversify their skills while continuing their Qur’anic memorisation studies.

To encourage skill improvement and exploration of new fields, the government has extended the tax exemption for skill improvement or self-improvement courses, allowing individuals to claim up to RM2,000 in exemption until the assessment year 2026.

To popularise knowledge and promote lifelong learning, RM5 million is provided for 5,000 focus communities in 105 community colleges nationwide.

Additionally, each public university will receive RM1 million to intensify the implementation of the Madani Community Empowerment Programme and the Disabled Community Rehabilitation Programme, aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs.

Overall, the government has allocated up to RM58.7 billion for the education sector, a 6.34% increase compared to this year’s allocation of RM55.2 billion.