TVET Education Attracts More Youth

XIE ZISHENG

June 19，2026

In Malaysia, the audience group of technical vocational education and training (TVET) programs has been expanding. According to official data, the employment rate of TVET graduates has remained at an extremely high level. In recent years, the demand for skilled talents in various industries has been increasing. Therefore, at present, traditional universities are no longer the only choice for students. Vocational education, in response to the needs of various industries, has become the preferred choice for many students.

Source:https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/05/28/tvet-increasingly-preferred-by-youth-says-ahmad-zahid

Figure 1:  TVET increasingly preferred by youth, says Ahmad Zahid

With the continuous expansion of the demand for skilled talents in various industries in Malaysia, the Malaysian government has strongly supported vocational education (TVET) and regarded it as an important pillar for Malaysia's economic growth and industrial development. Thus, more students are opting to choose vocational training after completing their secondary education. According to the Malaysian government, the employment rate of graduates from technical vocational education (TVET) has approached 99%, which has made it one of the most successful educational fields in terms of job placement.

Wong Ching Yi, a student of Technical Vocational and Educational Training (TVET), stated that currently, technical vocational education is becoming increasingly attractive. Its training programs include real internships and real practices. Therefore, he believes that he can gain more work experience before entering the workforce, and will have more opportunities to showcase his talents after employment, making him more competitive. Moreover, he also said that compared to ordinary university students who have mastered theoretical knowledge, in the future employment, he believes he will be better prepared and easier to find a job that suits him.

A large number of education experts unanimously agree that the main reason why more and more people are paying attention to vocational education and training (TVET) is its high employment rate. At present, many ordinary university students who have learned theoretical knowledge find it difficult to find jobs that are satisfactory or related to their majors after graduation. In contrast, graduates from vocational education and training can usually be directly matched with jobs related to their professional skills after graduation, thus obtaining valuable employment opportunities.

In order to ensure that students who receive vocational education can obtain jobs related to their professional skills after graduation, and maintain a certain competitiveness in the fierce competition across various industries, stand out and achieve success, the relevant government departments (such as Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education) have provided strong support and invested in the construction of infrastructure for vocational education, guaranteed a complete teaching staff, improved the specifications of educational and training equipment, and more importantly, facilitated the connection between vocational education schools and enterprises in various industries. This not only ensures the employment rate of students but also guarantees a continuous supply of students for these enterprises, enabling them to maintain vitality and vigor.

Nevertheless, while vocational and technical education (TVET) is becoming increasingly popular, there are still some problems and challenges. Many families still believe that attending regular universities for theoretical knowledge education is the main and even the only way for future employment. Therefore, at the level of public perception, there are still considerable issues. Educational experts believe that it is very important for more families to understand the job opportunities and development achievements after choosing vocational and technical education.

In the current era, various enterprises in all sectors of Malaysia are transforming towards a technology-driven economy. As a result, vocational and technical education (TVET) will play an increasingly important role in Malaysia's education system. More students will choose vocational and technical education, more families will accept it, and vocational and technical education will ensure students' employment rates, provide stable job opportunities, bring considerable economic income, and realize personal value.