The Malaysian government will introduce skills development programmes for girls in schools nationwide in 2026 aimed at enhancing young women's economic empowerment, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry said [1, 2]. The programme is designed to equip girls with practical skills before they finish their studies so they can generate income and achieve economic independence in the future [1, 2].
These skills training sessions will be held after major school examinations, lasting two to three days alongside academic lessons. Implementation will be coordinated through district education offices and in partnership with individual schools, pending approval [1, 2]. Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said, "Before they become women, they are just girls. That is why we are going to schools to provide them with skills programmes. They can test their skills, and in the future, they can sell their products and generate income" [2].
The ministry is also seeking to expand collaboration with NGOs such as Rotary International to tackle social issues and improve welfare outcomes [1, 2]. It plans to increase volunteer involvement in home help services for welfare recipients, including providing transportation to hospitals and other support [1, 2].
Nearly 1 million single mothers and women heading households face the dual burden of caregiver and sole breadwinner roles in Malaysia, yet only a small fraction are formally registered in existing support systems [1, 2]. The KasihniTA programme, which supports single mothers with financial literacy, psychosocial counseling, and legal skills, engaged around 1,900 participants in 2025 and successfully handled 90 legal aid cases [1].
The ministry currently supports over 839,535 registered persons with disabilities nationwide. Autism is one of the fastest growing conditions among children enrolled in these disability programmes [1].
Minister Nancy Shukri publicly announced the schoolgirls’ skills programme and related social welfare initiatives on May 23, 2026, at the Rotary District Conference [1]. The nationwide rollout of the girls' skills development programme will proceed this year, with activities expected to begin after school examinations across all districts.
