Sabah is moving towards strengthening its technical and vocational education ecosystem with the formation of the Sabah TVET Council. 

The council is tasked with coordinating more than 160 training institutions across the state and aligning their programmes with the needs of industry.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the council marks a serious push by the State Government to prepare Sabah’s youth for the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.

“TVET not only equips individuals with practical skills, it creates pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and economic growth,” he said in a speech delivered by Deputy Chief Minister III and Works Minister Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya at the council’s launch in Kota Kinabalu on Monday.

Other than the creation of the Sabah TVET Council to complement the Sabah government effort, the Sabah Economic Advisory Council, Sabah Logistics Council, Sabah Labour Advisory Council, and Sabah Energy Council have also been established since 2020. 

He said the TVET Council will not only coordinate training but also serve as a bridge to industry, ensuring that graduates are job-ready and able to meet the demands of sectors like manufacturing, energy, logistics, and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence.

Hajiji said the council’s work would align with the Sabah Maju Jaya Roadmap 2.0 and national strategies such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030), the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP 2030), and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).

“The world of work is changing fast. TVET is the best platform to build a workforce that is ready for these changes,” Hajiji said.

He urged young Sabahans to seize the opportunities provided by TVET and view it as a primary career path, not a fallback.

“This is our commitment to making sure every graduate is ready to contribute to Sabah’s future,” he said. – May 19, 2025