MELAKA LEADS THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY & EDUCATION: STRENGTHENING TVET & STEM AS UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO FALL

Yang Amat Berhomar, Chief Minister of Malacca together with Melaka School Students during YES! Rock The School Mega Edition Melaka 2025. 

MELAKA, 14 AUGUST 2025 – The State Government of Melaka continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to empowering the younger generation, with several major education and human capital development initiatives announced today in conjunction with the Closing Ceremony of the YES! Rock The School Mega Edition 2025.

In his speech, the Chief Minister of Melaka, YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Yusoh, highlighted the state’s significant progress in academic performance and interest in technical fields, noting that:

• A total of 18 students sitting for the 2024 SPM examinations achieved straight A+ grades, a more than threefold increase compared to the previous year.
• Enrolment in TVET institutions has risen by nearly 40%, reaching close to 7,000 students in 2025.
• Applications to UTeM for TVET-related courses exceeded 60,000, reflecting a marked increase in young people’s interest in technical disciplines.
• Melaka recorded the highest national participation in the Malaysia Techlympics 2025, with over 450,000 entries.

From an economic perspective, Melaka is beginning to reap the rewards of sustained investment in education, as the state’s unemployment rate dropped significantly to just 1.9% in the first quarter of 2025 — well below the national average of 3.1%. This progress is driven by the rapid growth of the industrial sector, which now comprises over 395 manufacturing industries, generating more than 400,000 job opportunities for the people of Melaka.

“Melaka is on the right track – combining quality education, career opportunities, and progressive policies,” stressed the Chief Minister.

Jointly organised by the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), the Ministry of Education, and TalentCorp, the YES! Rock The School programme brought together over 700 students from across the country, serving as a platform to guide young people in exploring career potential in the digital and high-technology economy.

Around 800 participants joins the YES! Rock The School Mega Edition Malacca 2025 

YBrs. Tuan Sutekno Ahmad Belon, Deputy Secretary-General (Operations) of KESUMA, remarked that the world of work is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with some roles becoming obsolete while new ones emerge each year. Through initiatives such as YES! Rock The School, KESUMA aims to equip students with both technical expertise and essential soft skills that will remain relevant across multiple industries.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mohd Khuzzan bin Abu Bakar, Deputy Chairman of the TalentCorp Board of Directors, affirmed that TalentCorp remains committed to supporting youth talent development by providing critical occupations data and future skills projections through the Malaysia Critical Occupations List (MyCOL) and MyMahir Impact Study. This effort ensures that Melaka’s youth are well-positioned to seize the growing high-skilled job opportunities in the state.

The Chief Minister also urged all young people in Melaka to prepare themselves to lead in future industries and to receive wider exposure to STEM-related fields.

“We want to see Melaka’s students, in particular, at the forefront of high-technology sectors, just as Melaka once stood as a globally respected centre of trade,” he said.

He further added that programmes such as YES! Rock The School offer early exposure to the future world of work through direct input from industry experts in areas such as AI, engineering, innovation, and financial literacy, while also building students’ confidence through direct engagement.

For more information on this initiative, visit www.talentcorp.com.my/rts/.

Issued by Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)

14 August 2025