KPT Collecting Proposals for POLYCC Restructuring to Strengthen TVET Sector
SHAH ALAM: Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi is currently gathering proposals and findings for the restructuring of polytechnics and community colleges (POLYCC) as part of efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.
Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said the ministry is reviewing several key aspects that require improvement, including salary schemes, career pathways, professional development and the position of officers within the institutions.
According to him, a special committee has been established at the POLYCC level to examine all related aspects, including the current legal framework governing the institutions.
“As such, all areas requiring review are currently being assessed, including existing structures and necessary improvements,” he told reporters after attending the Kembara KARISMA Pemimpin Muda MADANI Zon Tengah POLYCC 2026 programme at Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah today.
He added that all proposals and feedback collected, including those from the programme, would be refined before being presented to the Cabinet for consideration.
Previously, Zambry Abdul Kadir said the government was planning a restructuring initiative involving 36 polytechnics nationwide.
According to him, the move aims to strengthen polytechnic institutions so they are no longer limited to certificate and diploma programmes but are also capable of offering bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes.
He said the transformation is important to ensure TVET institutions remain capable of meeting current and future industrial demands, particularly in high-technology sectors and advanced skills areas.
The Kembara KARISMA Pemimpin Muda MADANI 2026 programme organised by Akademi Kepimpinan Pendidikan Tinggi (AKEPT) serves as a leadership development platform aimed at strengthening young leadership talent among lecturers and administrators in higher education institutions.
The programme was designed based on Malaysia MADANI values, good governance principles and strategic thinking aligned with the aspirations of the national higher education sector.
The initiative gathered approximately 300 young lecturers and administrators from polytechnics and community colleges across the Central Zone to enhance leadership competencies and build future leadership networks within the TVET sector.
In a separate development, Zambry Abdul Kadir also stressed that the government’s decision to allow graduates from Chinese Independent Secondary Schools (SMPC) to pursue selected programmes at public higher education institutions does not amount to official recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
He said the decision was made based on current educational needs and remains subject to existing national education requirements, including conditions related to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
According to him, the approach is intended to provide educational opportunities without affecting the country’s national education policy.
-wilayah.com.my
