PM announces TVET scholarship programme for B40 students

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced a scholarship programme dubbed “Dermasiswa B40 TVET”, specifically for B40 students pursuing studies in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) at public higher learning institutions under the higher education ministry this year.

He said this was to motivate and encourage more students to pursue their tertiary studies in TVET, adding that the first intake of the programme would involve 1,000 students.

“The government projects that each intake of the programme will involve a financial implication of RM36.41 million,” he said when officiating at the National TVET Week 2022 in Shah Alam today.

He said he was confident that the programme would provide more opportunities for the youth, especially from B40 households, to gain access to education at a higher level and build their own careers in the TVET field.

He said TVET had been identified as one of 14 game changers in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) as it was time for TVET to be the main choice of youths in preparing themselves for the future, like in other developed countries.

Also present were Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad, Education Minister Radzi Jidin, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan, Rural Development Minister Mahdzir Khalid and Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

At the ceremony, the prime minister also announced that National TVET Day would be celebrated on June 2 every year to recognise the contributions of many quarters to TVET.

“It is also in conjunction with the establishment of Politeknik Ungku Omar, which is the country’s earliest institution, providing TVET education since 1969,” he said.

He said the government’s concern for TVET was proven through the provision of high funding, in which 80% of public TVET providers offer programmes for free, and a total of 171,412 TVET programmes at the diploma and bachelor’s degree levels were offered from 2019 to 2021.

The prime minister said although public awareness of the lucrative income offered to those who work in the TVET sector had increased, it had yet to achieve its target.

He spoke of a need for a paradigm shift to create a more positive perception of TVET with the support of parents, youths and the industry.

“There are many social media platforms that can be optimally utilised to promote TVET, including b” showcasing the success of TVET graduates and alumni, thus making it a career of choice,” he said.

Ismail also urged the industry to be a strategic partner by promoting TVET, highlighting career opportunities and allowing students to conduct field visits.

“I believe that this can increase participation, thus making TVET the main catalyst in producing a highly skilled local workforce like in developed countries,” he said.