Assessing TVET Teacher Competency: Students’ Perceptions at ILP Pasir Gudang

Abstract

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) teacher competency plays a vital role in Malaysia’s education system, especially in the government’s efforts to improve technical and vocational training. Developing competent and skilled TVET teachers is a key priority in Malaysia’s TVET transformation efforts. While initiatives are in motion to improve teacher training and curriculum, concerns remain regarding skill gaps in TVET teacher competency. This study investigates students’ perceptions of their teachers’ competency at Institute Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Pasir Gudang. The sample consisted of 621 students enrolled in the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) level 3 program. The findings revealed that students perceive TVET teachers at ILP Pasir Gudang as highly competent. However, teachers from the Electrical and Electronics Department received higher competency ratings compared to those in the Mechanical and Manufacturing Department. Additionally, first-semester students rated their teacher more favorably than those in later semesters. Lastly, Industrial Electronics students provided higher competency ratings for their teachers than General Machining students, who gave lower ratings. These findings highlight the need for targeted training programs and continuous professional development to ensure that all TVET teachers maintain high competency levels across different disciplines and departments.

Keywords: Competency, Technical and Vocational Education, Teacher skills, Teacher training and development