KUALA LUMPUR — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will continue to empower Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in sports to produce more skilled workers in the sports industry.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced that as part of this initiative, the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) in Kuala Langat will be converted into the National Sports Skills Institute (IKSN) next year, focusing on education and skill development in sports technology.
She highlighted potential Sports TVET programmes at IKSN, including sports facility construction and maintenance, sports motoring, and sports photography, all aimed at meeting the industry’s needs.
“We need time (to introduce TVET Sports) but it’s a good start. Even though we want to try it now, we have to make sure that the instructors are ready,” she said after attending the Sports TVET Engagement Session in conjunction with the Skills Symposium of the Institute of Youth and Sports Skills Training (ILKBS) 2024 (SKIL’24) near Puchong, today.
The introduction of Sports TVET aims to reduce Malaysia’s reliance on foreign expertise and workers within the sports sector.
This, according to Hannah, could lower operational costs at sports facilities and keep access affordable for the public.
Hannah added that Sports TVET will be more sports-focused, with existing programmes like sports massage and golf caddying serving as a foundation.
“We are exploring a variety of sports science-related TVET programs to ensure a targeted, industry-aligned approach.”
Today’s engagement session, attended by KBS secretary-general K. Nagulendran, gathered feedback from industry leaders, sports associations, and agencies to ensure the planned Sports TVET aligns with the sector’s demands.
The ministry is also focusing on skill-based youth empowerment initiatives, such as the KLAS Renang programme, which provides free swimming lessons for B40 youth and career opportunities for former swimmers. — November 13, 2024