SHAH ALAM (Nov 11): The 2027 Selangor budget will focus on strengthening the education support system and increasing student participation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said education remains a key development agenda for the state, with investments assessed based on their impact on students, teachers, institutions and the community.

“Among the priorities of the state education budget, which will be announced this Friday, are strengthening access to and opportunities for education, empowering educational institutions, and enhancing teachers' competencies, facilities and the quality of education delivery,” he said.

He said this after launching the Selangor Education Summit (SES) 2026 at the Setia City Convention Centre here on Wednesday.

Also present were state secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin and the deputy state secretary (development), who also serves as a director of the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN), Datuk Johary Anuar.

Amirudin said the state government is also emphasising stronger higher education, research, and innovation through strategic collaborations between academic institutions and industry players.

He said holistic human capital development is also a priority, encompassing a balance between academic achievement, skills, character development and human values, in line with the fourth mission of the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2), namely productive and inclusive human capital.

He said efforts to strengthen TVET and STEM are also being prioritised to meet the demand for skilled workers and foster a culture of innovation among students from the early stages of schooling.

“The perception that TVET is a second-choice education option needs to change, as the field offers education and career pathways with high economic value and plays an important role in meeting the country's skilled workforce needs.

“STEM proficiency, meanwhile, needs to be nurtured from the early stages of schooling so that students not only become familiar with science and technology but also have the confidence to explore, create and develop solutions to problems,” he said.

Meanwhile, Johary said the SES 2026, which runs for four days until Nov 14, is being held for the second time as a platform to bring together various aspects of education under one programme.

He said the summit features competitions, symposiums, conventions, research and innovation activities, as well as exhibitions by Selangor state education agencies.

He said the objectives of the SES include providing a platform for knowledge sharing, introducing education opportunities and pathways as well as skills development, and broadening exposure to STEM and TVET.

Earlier, Amirudin also launched the SPARK (Selangor Programme for Aspiring, Ready, and Knowledgeable Talents), which offers a monthly industrial training allowance of RM1,500 along with special modules, as well as the Apple awareness education Asean and the Selangor People’s Tuition e-Praktis programme.

Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee