Last year, colleges only accounted for 553 students, who proceeded for higher education to pursue state-funded diploma programmes against a capacity of 54,927.
Less than a quarter of the available 22,959 slots were taken up for certificate courses.
Sources at the placement agency said this year, the ministry is pushing for full take up of slots available at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions.
With about 500,000 slots up for the take, the ministry says TVETs are key to ensure 100 per cent transition from secondary to higher education.
However, the intake has been relatively slow, registering just 75,000 candidates.
Big four
Speaking in an interview, Education CS Amina Mohamed said the ministry plans to expand the institutions to accommodate more students.
“The Big Four agenda runs on skills. Building, manufacturing and agriculture all depend on skilled people to work there. TVET is the answer so we will continue campaigning for increased enrollment,” she said.