KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The government has been urged to consider making it mandatory for secondary school students to spend a week of their holidays gaining hands-on experience in high-tech industries.
Gombak MP Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the initiative would help elevate the value and perception of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) among students and parents.
Amirudin, who is also the Selangor Menteri Besar, said the proposal could be incorporated into the upcoming TVET Bill, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of Budget 2026 on October 10.
"The bill could include a provision requiring secondary school students to spend one week of their school holidays gaining exposure in high-tech factories," he said when debating the budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Amirudin added that while the proposed TVET Bill marks a positive step forward, it is time to build a more effective ecosystem and eliminate overlaps in functions and focus.
He urged Malaysia to adopt the ‘triple helix’ concept adopted by the Netherlands, which sees industry, government, and educational institutions collaborate to create a comprehensive TVET training network that provides education and skills training, as well as hands-on work experience.
When tabling Budget 2026, Anwar announced a RM7.9 billion allocation for TVET, up from RM7.5 billion this year, to train more local talent to meet industry demand.
On a separate matter, Amirudin said the recent high-profile criminal cases in schools have underscored the need for education to go beyond schools and universities and extend to the broader community.
He noted that funds should not be solely focused on improving schools, but also on empowering community and family institutions to nurture children’s character and personality development.
“In Selangor, we witnessed the heartbreaking case of a 16-year-old student who was fatally stabbed within the school compound. I believe this is the right time for us to view education through a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach.
“We must ensure that we no longer point fingers or place blame on any single party, whether schools, teachers, or others, in addressing issues ranging from bullying to social problems.
“Since students spend most of their time at home, we must also look into how family systems, employment structures, and wage levels can help ease parents’ burdens so they do not have to work excessive hours or struggle to make ends meet,” Amirudin said.
The roles of the community, neighbours, and local networks are equally important, along with efforts to enhance smart systems in schools and other key areas to better monitor and respond to emerging issues.
