Despite Weak SPM Results, Youth Finds Success Through TVET

By Siti Nur Athirah Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Once labelled as having “no bright future” due to his underwhelming Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results, a young man here has proven otherwise, carving out a name for himself as a skilled entrepreneur.

At just 25, Noor Azree Aiman Noor Azrin runs a smartphone repair business, FiXpress Melawati KL, which not only generates a good income for him but also creates job opportunities for others.

It was his mother who urged him to pursue technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and his decision to take up her advice ultimately changed the course of his life.

“I was actually interested in multimedia, but my SPM results didn’t qualify me for admission into a public university. So my mother suggested I continue at a community college in TVET, and I chose a course related to computers and technology.

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“Although it wasn’t multimedia, it was still within the field of technology,” he told Bernama, adding that he pursued a diploma course in mobile technology at Ampang Community College.

Noor Azree Aiman, who started his business in February, has four employees, including an industrial trainee. He said he never expected the often underestimated TVET field to offer such a promising future.

He first realised the potential of TVET whilst undergoing industrial training, where he was given the opportunity to generate sales reaching hundreds of thousands of ringgit using his skills — an experience that pushed him to pursue the field seriously.

“After graduating, armed with just RM1,500 in capital, my three friends and I went door-to-door offering our services, earning only about RM200 each.

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“We kept pushing forward and used social media to promote our business. It helped tremendously, and now we enjoy a comfortable income and have our own premises,” said Noor Azree Aiman, who runs FiXpress Melawati KL with his partners.

Among his achievements is receiving the Community College Entrepreneur Award at the Selangor Community College convocation ceremony last year.

Despite his success, he remains grounded and is determined to help other youths build a future in skills-based industries.

With the expertise he has gained, Noor Azree Aiman now collaborates with educational institutions to provide industrial training opportunities for students, contributing to the development of the TVET ecosystem.

“TVET not only equipped me with skills but also gave me the opportunity to help others. Some of my employees had no background in this field, but after a few months, they were already able to repair phones,” he said, adding that he was also invited as a speaker for the Advanced TVET and Entrepreneurship segment at Putrajaya Festival Idea 2025, as well as at e-commerce and digitalisation programmes at Shah Alam Polytechnic to share his knowledge.

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He added that strong family support, as well as mentorship during his industrial training, were the key factors behind his success.

Noor Azree Aiman described TVET as an important pathway for young people who may not excel academically, noting that skills-based fields remain in high demand and highly relevant.

“My advice to students is not to be afraid to fail. Keep trying and keep learning. If academics aren’t your strength, skills can be your path to success… they can take you anywhere. What matters is mastering a field,” he said.

-- BERNAMA