He said technical education is being expanded to the highest level through the Malaysian technical university network involving Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Perlis and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Bernama reported.

“We will provide a pathway for these TVET (technical and vocational education and training) graduates,” he said. “This means that their path after finishing school is not only limited to the certificate or diploma level but can be expanded up to doctorate (PhD) level.”

He said the comprehensive empowerment of TVET also indirectly removes the stigma of society that sees technical education as a second-class field.

Empowering the TVET programme as a whole will minimise Malaysia’s dependence on skilled foreign workers, especially in technical fields, said Zambry.

He said the ministry would also place emphasis on increasing the number of graduates majoring in electrical and electronics, fields which have a high job demand.

“We are only able to produce 5,000 engineers a year but we actually need around 53,000 engineers (a year). This matter will be examined and given emphasis to achieve the desired standard,” he added.

Zambry was speaking to reporters in Lumut after presenting RM150,000 in donations to students from the B40 group in the Lumut parliamentary constituency as part of the Back to School programme.