Zahid, who is the national TVET committee chairman, said the country needed to produce more skilled workers in the future to meet the demand, Bernama reported.

“I congratulate the 11,000 SPM students who achieved excellent results in all subjects. However, not all SPM graduates can score straight As and the world doesn’t end because of that. Many academic opportunities are available for them.

“They can enter the professional field, but what’s more important is that our country needs skilled workers and TVET is the answer,” he told the Malaysian media in Shanghai covering his official visit to China today.

Zahid said parents were now more open about encouraging their children to take up TVET courses, which offered high salaries and a brighter future career.

He said those who underwent TVET courses could pursue degree courses at Universiti Kuala Lumpur and other places later if they wanted.

“We have arranged several special courses, with 70% of the learning conducted in workshops or labs. Only 30% of lessons are conducted in lecture rooms. This can be very attractive to some students,” he said.