2,364 Tahfiz Students Enrolled in TVET Training Programmes Since 2023 – Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,364 tahfiz students enrolled in various skills training programmes at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions between 2023 and 2025, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Chairman of the National TVET Council (MTVET), said data from the Department of Skills Development (JPK) under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) also showed that 900 tahfiz students had successfully obtained certification under the National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS).

In a written reply to Datuk Ahmad Saad @ Yahya (PN-Pokok Sena) regarding the progress and challenges of implementing Tahfiz TVET, Ahmad Zahid said the NOSS certifications comprised 609 students at Level 3, 285 at Level 4 and six at Level 5.

“In terms of programme expansion under KESUMA, the Manpower Department (JTM) has increased the number of institutions offering Tahfiz TVET from one in 2024 to four Advanced Technology Colleges (ADTEC), namely the Selandar, Kepala Batas, Kuala Lumpur and Jerantut campuses,” he said.

The initiative saw 375 trainees undertaking full-time certificate-level training and micro-credential diploma programmes at the institutions as of August 31.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), said that under the ministry’s initiative, a total of 1,165 tahfiz students had participated in TVET programmes, ranging from short courses and modular training to degree-level studies, since the Professional Huffaz Programme was introduced at Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) in 2016.

The programme has since been expanded to TVETMARA, GIATMARA, the PERDA Advanced Skills Institute (PERDA-TECH), Kolej KEDA and Kolej KETENGAH.

It is also supported by academic preparatory programmes and mobile training units deployed to tahfiz institutions in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).

Meanwhile, under the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT), the programme is implemented through the Techno-Huffaz Programme at polytechnics and the Lifelong Learning (PSH) approach at community colleges.

“As of October 2026, a total of 1,216 tahfiz students had participated in Tahfiz TVET programmes at community colleges, comprising 1,196 students through 89 Micro-Credentials Stand Alone (MCSA) courses and 20 students through professional skills courses,” he said.

Addressing implementation challenges, Ahmad Zahid said the main issues identified included differences in students’ academic qualifications and digital proficiency, coordinating skills training schedules with Quran memorisation activities, and limited facilities and qualified instructors in rural areas.

In response, the government will continue strengthening cooperation among ministries, agencies and industries by offering flexible and modular courses.

“This is to ensure that the training provided remains relevant to the current job market and produces professional huffaz who are well-balanced in their mastery of religious knowledge, technical skills and employability,” he said.

BERNAMA