Students in rural areas will have access to more affordable technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes under the numerous 13th Malaysia Plan initiatives, an academic said.
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka vice-chancellor Massila Kamalrudin said the full scholarships offered would not only cover training fees, but also the cost of living, which would allow the B40 and M40 to further their studies without placing too much financial burden on these groups.
“A mobile TVET programme and a satellite training centre will allow for TVET to be introduced to more rural areas and the Orang Asli community, who did not have proper access to TVET institutions in the past.
“Such an approach means that no one is left behind in the country’s development,” she said in a statement.
Tabling the 13MP yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government will introduce a Madani TVET financing scheme and a TVET training fund.
Massila said the training fund would help equip students with the skills to match the demands of the market in sectors such as renewable energy, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.
She said youths are gravitating more towards TVET as it provided a clearer career path.
“TVET graduates don’t just obtain certificates, but are guaranteed jobs due to tie-ups with the industry,” she said.
Separately, the University of Cyberjaya described the 13MP as a “roadmap for reshaping the human capital landscape of Malaysia”.
Its vice-chancellor, David Whitford, hailed the five-year plan’s emphasis on AI literacy, digital skills, and entrepreneurship.
“We also support the MP13’s proposed pilot autonomy for universities, recognising this as a critical step toward greater innovation, agility, and accountability in higher education,” he said.
