Wednesday 29/10/2025

^{Breakdown of qualifications that TVET students are aware of.}


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Despite their vocational nature, subjects like accounting, journalism, and nursing are often not identified as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) subjects, possibly due to their higher perceived status, compared to professions typically seen as more 'manual'.

This is one of the key takeaways from a national survey report on the perceptions versus reality of TVET conducted by the Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO), which found that 96% of respondents were unaware of the full range of TVET qualifications available, with the majority believing that TVET graduates could only receive up to Certificate or Diploma level qualifications.

The report, which was informed by 1,299 respondents spanning four key demographics: general public and youth with no TVET experience, current TVET students, TVET graduates, and employers, also found that while 45% of youths surveyed have a positive perception of TVET, only 35% of them would choose to pursue a TVET pathway.
 
According to 2024 data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, only 4.3% of Malaysian youth aged 15 - 24 are enrolled in technical or vocational programmes. However, the Department of Statistics Malaysia reported that 55.9% of job vacancies in 2024 were for semi-skilled roles.
 
In fact, last year the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) stated that Malaysia needs 50,000 Electrical & Electronics (E&E) engineers annually, but local universities produce only 5,000 graduates.
 
While there remains a perception of TVET as a less valuable educational path, the report found that the perception of TVET graduates’ employability tends to correlate with the level of familiarity or direct experience respondents have with the system.
 
Those with closer exposure to TVET, such as current students, graduates and employers who have hired TVET talent tend to hold more positive views, particularly in terms of the relevance of skills to the job market.
 
With social influence playing a big role in chosen education pathways, these groups are in a unique position to increase public awareness of the high return on investment of a TVET education.
 
“FINCO’s goal of supporting future-ready students is aligned with the National TVET Policy 2030, which aims to equip individuals with practical skills and knowledge before they enter the workforce, so it is crucial for us to understand the barriers to TVET's popularity and momentum in order to better guide school students in making informed career pathway decisions.
 
“Our hope is that the insights from this report will not just inform the work that we carry out in schools with the support of the Ministry of Education Malaysia, but also contribute to supporting educators, training institutions, employers, policymakers and other stakeholders involved in the education sector,” said Clare Walker, CEO of FINCO.
 
The report also highlights how TVET graduates are in demand in the workforce, where company policies are not a barrier. 82% of employers who have previously hired TVET graduates report that these individuals possess at least some to most of the essential skills and knowledge needed for their roles.
 
However, while positive steps have been made in aligning TVET curricula with occupational standards, issues with skills and quality gaps among graduates persist.
 
Last year, the Ministry of Higher Education found that 70% of graduates are mismatched both vertically and horizontally, with 43% of graduates not working in their trained field.
 
Closer collaboration between educators and employers will not just contribute to improving the general public’s perception of TVET, it will also better prepare students for the workforce.
 
“TVET is not only about equipping young people with technical skills—it is about shaping a generation that can drive Malaysia’s future economy. By supporting FINCO in its efforts to provide students with the relevant knowledge and skills to select the right career pathways for themselves, including TVET pathways, the financial industry can directly contribute to cultivating a skilled workforce that will strengthen businesses and create long-term stability,” commented Tan Sri Azman Hashim, FINCO’s Chairman, on the role of the financial industry in transforming current perceptions of TVET.
 
The full report can be read on FINCO’s website at www.finco.my/reports.

About the Financial Industry Collective Outreach

The Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO) is a collaborative initiative pioneered by financial institutions in Malaysia with the guidance of Bank Negara Malaysia to provide underprivileged children and youth with the guidance and educational tools they need to achieve their life goals. FINCO seeks to achieve these objectives through inclusive educational initiatives under four strategic pillars - English Proficiency and Life Aspiration, Financial Literacy and Disaster Relief.

FINCO Website: www.finco.my
Instagram: finco_my
Facebook: fincomalaysia
LinkedIn: company/fincomy

SOURCE: Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Ms. Hannah Jonas
Communications and Events Manager, FINCO
Tel: 014 649 4295
Email: hannah.jonas@finco.my   

--BERNAMA