PUTRAJAYA: Efforts are being made to recognise Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) as on par with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The government, he said, will submit policy papers to the Cabinet as part of its initiative to ensure the marketability of students pursuing technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

"The submission will be done in two weeks' time. We are in the midst of planning significant changes involving the national education and higher education policies.

"These efforts will be streamlined based on specific fields.

"We are no longer working in silos but coordinating with 12 ministries, government-linked companies (GLCs) and the private sector," he told reporters here on Tuesday (June 27).

He was asked about follow-up action by the government following the revelation of some 30,000 SPM candidates not sitting for the exam in 2020.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, launched the Madani TVET portal.

He later witnessed the exchange of memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar and GLCs as well as the private sector.

Ahmad Zahid added that efforts are being undertaken to ensure that no one is left behind in the job market while reducing the country's dependency on foreign labour by upskilling locals according to market demand and students' interests.

"TVET students will have job security, thus reducing unemployment rate and mismatch issues," he said.