World · Malaysia Bureau
Youth Skills Body Seeks RM1 Billion Fund Boost Alongside RM8 Billion TVET Allocation
Belia Mahir is calling for increased financing to support young trainees with tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses throughout their vocational training programmes, as the government allocates RM8 billion to technical and vocational education and training.
LSN Malaysia ·
The youth skills development organisation has made a formal request for RM1 billion in dedicated funding to complement the substantial investment in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) infrastructure across the country.
Belia Mahir's appeal underscores the financial barriers facing many young Malaysians pursuing vocational qualifications, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds. Beyond capital expenditure on training facilities and equipment, the organisation argues that comprehensive support mechanisms are essential to ensure trainees can complete their programmes without undue hardship.
The requested allocation would specifically target living allowances, accommodation costs and course fees for participants enrolled in skills development initiatives. This represents a significant gap in current funding frameworks, which traditionally prioritise infrastructure development over direct student support.
The RM8 billion TVET allocation represents a substantial commitment to expanding Malaysia's technical workforce capacity. However, Belia Mahir's intervention suggests that maximising the impact of this investment requires parallel efforts to remove financial obstacles facing prospective trainees.
The dual funding approach aligns with regional efforts to address skills shortages by making vocational pathways more accessible to a broader cross-section of the youth population, including disadvantaged communities.