KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) fully endorses the government's proactive approach to reviewing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policies, aiming to empower and strengthen TVET to be an alternative pathway for employees.
In a statement today, its president, Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman highlighted the changing trends in education preferences among the younger generation, emphasising the inclination towards short-term learning over normal academic education through institutes of higher learning.
Recognising this shift, he asserted the importance of establishing a robust TVET education system in the country.
Syed Hussain also applauded the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his unwavering support and commitment to TVET.
Zahid recently said, "Since its inception, there has been no TVET policy; therefore, I have directed the development of one, which will be submitted to the cabinet for approval by January next year.
"I am very serious about empowering TVET education and will consistently advocate for its transformation into the predominant option for employers seeking to recruit skilled workers," Zahid said.
Syed Hussain said the pathway to a successful career in the private sector was to be practically trained at the workplace and employers are in a better position to determine also addressing the needs of industries.
"We need to upskill, reskill and right-skill our workforce so that our fresh local talents can be accepted into industries with minimal familiarisation and possess the relevant skills required by the industries.
"MEF believes that having dialogue with the federation, industry associations and relevant stakeholders would give a better understanding and wider scope on the needs to further strengthen the TVET programmes of the courses," the statement read.
MEF also believes that more industry-experienced trainers should be involved in delivering the programmes, as it ensures the TVET students gain insights into workplace experiences and challenges.
Commenting further, he underscored MEF's active involvement in international labour organisations, highlighting that the challenges faced in TVET education and employment are global issues.
"Many countries are having issues with a lack of skills and mismatches of education with industry requirements, foreign labour and migration. These are certainly not Malaysian issues alone, but international issues. Therefore, the initiatives taken by the Malaysian government to empower, strengthen, and mainstream TVET education are in the right direction.
"MEF is therefore in full support of the focus given to TVET and allocating adequate resources and funding. MEF is ready and available to assist if needed," added Syed Hussain.