CONGRATULATIONS: Gan presenting the Best Student Award to Mac Donald, witnessed by (from left) Syamsul, Saari and Lee.
MIRI: The government is constantly focusing on efforts to develop youths in line with its policy to develop and provide training opportunities for the target groups.
In view of this, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia (MYS), through its strategic planning from 2010 to 2015, have outlined several objectives to ensure that technical skills and vocational trainings can be implemented effectively and efficiently.
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Senator Gan Ping Sieu said providing skills training opportunities was the main agenda that could have a big impact on the country’s social and economic development.
“Therefore, MYS has carried out various skills training implementation to ensure that youths have careers that are based on skills.
“This includes full time training at Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) apart from short term courses, training programmes outside IKBN and the latest Prior Acquired Skills (PPT) programmes,” he said.
He said this in his address at IKBN’s Miri 5th Convention 2011 which was held at IKBN Miri’s multipurpose hall here yesterday.
According to Gan, the ministry is also exploring training fields which are new and in demand to ensure that IKBN graduates could fill in the demand of the current work market.
In his address, he also urged IKBN graduates to be innovative apart from the knowledge and skills learned.
“Among others, graduates need to have determination, confidence and self esteem in order to fulfil the needs of the industry, in line with the nation’s development direction,” he said.
He pointed out that though IKBN students are ‘marketable’, they should not limit themselves to being employees only but also to become employers by venturing into business where the skills acquired could be put to use.
“I am confident that with the training acquired you (IKBN graduates) can carry the responsibility and trust towards becoming successful youths,” he pointed out.
Also present at the ceremony yesterday were Assistant Minister of Communications and Assistant Minister of Sports Datuk Lee Kim Shin, director general of IKBN Malaysia Skills Development Section Saari Salleh as well as IKBN Miri director Syamsul Tahrin Mohd Tahir.
A total of 293 graduates received their certificates at yesterday’s ceremony.
Receiving the Best Graduates Awards were Christie Soh Ong Bae (Car Maintenance), Lemoces Mauu (Spray Painting), Mac Donald Man (Commercial Vehicles Maintenance), Freddy Teo Chai Ee (General Machinery), Joanna Morris (Industrial Maintenance), Joshua Jalong Padan (Mould and Accessories Making), Iraqis Galfreda Harris (Pastry Preparation), Suzie Josephine (Food and Beverages Supervision), Rozie Hamaden (Food Preparation), Rachella Unyang Sakai (Hair Stylists) and Donna Lewen (Beauty Therapy).