Zahid: 2,364 tahfiz students take up skills training, 900 secure Malaysian Skills Certification

Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council chairman, said data from the Department of Skills Development under the Human Resources Ministry also showed that 900 tahfiz students had obtained Malaysian Skills Certification under the National Occupational Skills Standard. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

First Published: Thursday, 05 Nov 2026 12:58 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — 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, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. 

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council (MTVET) chairman, said data from the Department of Skills Development (JPK) under the Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma) also showed that 900 tahfiz students had obtained Malaysian Skills Certification under the National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS).

In a written reply to Datuk Ahmad Saad @ Yahya (PN-Pokok Sena) posted on the Parliament website on the progress and challenges in implementing tahfiz TVET programmes, Ahmad Zahid said the NOSS certification comprised 609 students at Level 3, 285 at Level 4 and six at Level 5.

“In terms of expanding programmes under Kesuma the Manpower Department (JTM) increased the tahfiz TVET offerings from one institution in 2024 to four Advanced Technology Colleges (ADTEC), namely the campuses in Selandar, Kepala Batas, Kuala Lumpur and Jerantut,” he said.

He said the move had enabled 375 trainees to undergo full-time certificate-level training and micro-credential diploma programmes at the institutions as at Aug 31.

For initiatives under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW), Ahmad Zahid, who is also its minister, said 1,165 tahfiz students had participated in TVET programmes ranging from short courses and modular training to degree-level programmes since the Professional Huffaz Programme was introduced at Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) in 2016.

He said the programme had since been expanded to TVETMARA, GIATMARA, the PERDA Institute of Advanced Skills (PERDA-TECH), Kolej KEDA and Kolej KETENGAH, with additional support through academic bridging programmes and mobile training units sent to tahfiz institutions in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).

Meanwhile, under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Ahmad Zahid said the programmes were implemented through the Techno-Huffaz Programme at polytechnics and the Lifelong Learning (PSH) approach at community colleges.

“As at October 2026, a total of 1,216 tahfiz students had participated in tahfiz TVET programmes at community colleges, comprising 1,196 students who attended 89 stand-alone micro-credential courses (MCSA) and 20 who took professional skills courses,” he said.

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

He said the government would therefore continue to strengthen cooperation among ministries, agencies and industry players through flexible and modular courses.

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