The education system must be able to produce quality and high skilled human capital that meets the industry’s demand as Malaysia strives to become a high-income nation. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG
The education system must be able to produce quality and high skilled human capital that meets the industry’s demand as Malaysia strives to become a high-income nation. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

KUALA LUMPUR: The education system must be able to produce quality and high skilled human capital that meets the industry's demand as Malaysia strives to become a high-income nation.

Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the government will focus on comprehensive improvements to the national education system and resolve any mismatch in the job market.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, when tabling the 12MP today, listed out eight main initiatives to improve the national education system.

This, he said, included strengthening the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects to prepare future generations with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (41R) development.

"Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes will be empowered by improving the ecosystem, increasing quality of the programme through accreditation, recognition and certification by international-level organisations.

"In addition, the government will introduce TVET institutional rating system. A centralised platform for the supply and demand of TVET (human capital) will also be developed," he said.

Ismail Sabri also announced that the government would create a more condusive enviroment in schools through the replacement of 148 dilapidated buildings from this year until next year with a cost of RM16 billion.

He also announced that the government would be building four school complexes and five new schools which involved RM848 million in cost.

On the tertiary level, Ismail Sabri said the government would create a more flexible enviroment which would be made possible through the cooperation from industry players.

"This initiative is aimed at producing the quality of our graduates subsequently meeting the demands of the industry," he said.

The government will also introduce digital education plan for the school and higher education level to ensure greater access to quality tertiary education.

"We will also improve facilities at several public universities such as Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)," he said.