PETALING JAYA: While premium wages could get more school leavers to enrol in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses, such graduates must be marketable and able to meet industry needs, say stakeholders.

They were responding to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement yesterday that the National TVET Council had decided on premium wages for TVET graduates.

National Association of Human Resources Malaysia president Zarina Ismail commended the move, saying it was a good first step to get more youth to opt for TVET.

“We have highlighted this issue for years and it is good to see that the government has finally addressed it.

“Youth will naturally favour high-salary jobs, especially if they are made aware of how marketable TVET’s lifelong skills can be for their future prospects.

“Having the minimum wage at RM2,500 would also provide TVET graduates with a guarantee that their starting salaries would at least be enough to support themselves,” she said.

Zarina, however, called for a new regulatory body to be set up to ensure that TVET students were able to practise what they learned in a real job setting before graduating.

“Pushing for more youth to join TVET is good but there is little point if the graduates produced are of low quality or can’t practise what they learnt in a real-world setting,” she said.

> TURN TO PAGE 4“The body must implement a mandatory final practical exam based on international standards that tests a student’s ability to apply knowledge in their prospective fields to real-world scenarios.

“This would ensure all TVET graduates are of both global quality and marketability to match the demanding standards that most modern job listings require.

“This would not only make it easier for them to find a job but also will also help develop Malaysia’s image as a hub for quality, skilled graduates globally,” Zarina added.

Newly-appointed National TVET Council member Mohammad Rizan Hassan agreed that quality and standards were important.

“The quality assurance provided by TVET institutions plays an important role in ensuring that these graduates are equipped with the skills required to secure high-paying jobs in today’s competitive market.

“Employers are constantly seeking well-trained employees who can contribute to their organisation effectively,” said Rizan, who is also the National Association of Skilled Workers secretary-general.

To ensure TVET institutes provide quality training, he said the curriculum must be tailored to industry needs and include experienced trainers, updated facilities and knowledge transfer.

“These measures will ensure that TVET graduates are always ready to fulfil the needs of industries, which also comes with the potential of a high-paying job,” he said, adding that this would result in a win-win situation for both the industry and graduates.

Rizan said premium wages would also address the shortage of skilled workers and motivate more to enrol in TVET courses.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/24/skills-must-match-premium-pay-say-experts