Malaysian Vocational Training System

This is part of a series of our Malysian Vocational Training System & Human Resources Development.

A eview of the economic development in and after the 1980s revealed that the government took a strong stance on human resource development. Some hold a view that it would be best to reduce government involvement and leave it to the market mechanism in developing countries. In reality, government involvement is anticipated in many countries and that is especially true in Malaysia. In fact, the government shows strong interest in human resource development and closely monitors the state of the implementation of vocational and other training. The interim report of the Malaysia Plan and other projects examined the state of vocational and other training. In Malaysia, foreign companies have an obligation to provide technical training for their employees. These examples clearly reflect the government’s attitude toward human resource development. Meanwhile, the government voices dissatisfaction with companies that are not willing to provide employee training or technical transfer from time to time. In Malaysia, there is significant interference from the government concerning human resource development; thus, it is only natural that public vocational training institutes have been deeply involved in the implementation of such government policies.
Public education and training policies generally cover two main areas: technical and vocational education, and work and vocational training. In Malaysia, various ministries and public agencies are expected to play specific roles in these areas. Technical and vocational education is aimed at providing the basic knowledge and skills to respond to the needs of a specific field of expertise. The Ministry of Education takes the initiative to provide technical and vocational education in the framework of secondary and higher education. In the meantime, work and vocational training is aimed at developing workers who can quickly adapt to the needs of the production site. Trainees learn to obtain “manufacturing” technologies and skills based on the curriculum focusing on the needs of industries. The Ministry of Human Resources, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and other public agencies provide work and vocational training programs to new graduates and workers.

Next in the series would be a discussoin on division of responsibilities between technical and vocational education and work and vocational training provided by public institutes and between different administrative levels.