KUCHING: Limited job opportunities due to inadequate education and skills are among the reasons contributing to poverty in the state, revealed Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah yesterday.
OFFICIAL OPENING: Fatimah signing a plaque to mark the official opening of the WOU regional office. Also seen are (from left) deputy vice chancellor (academic) professor Datuk Dr Ho Sinn Chye, Dr Seah, Chai, and Dr Wong.
To curb the problem, the state government was making an effort to generate a highly skilled workforce that was relevant to industries’ need as human capital development was important.
“Human capital development is obviously at the forefront of the state’s efforts to provide high paying jobs opportunities. Knowledge and skills acquired from the pursuit of tertiary qualifications will empower the workforce in the state.
“I understand that there are Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers who prefer to work rather than pursue higher studies due to certain reasons. My advise is that they should go for trainings to meet the industry’s need, and then after few years of work, they should upgrade their skills and expertise by taking up courses designed to match industries requirements in order to increase their income,” she said when launching the opening of Wawasan Open University (WOU) regional office at Jalan Tun Jugah here yesterday.
Fatimah pointed out that the projected manpower in the state for the professional category by 2015 requires 56,635, while the semi professional category requires 169,855, and about 290,000 for the general level.
By 2030 about 1.3 million new jobs will be available with a projected manpower for the professional level at about 150,000 and 380,135 for semi professionals.
“The future direction of the state is to work together with universities and with prospective industries the state to see 1.3 million new jobs by 2030 and we need skilled and semi skilled professionals.
“If we are to sustain the state’s economic growth, we have to engage, attract and develop high value added industries. Economic transformation cannot happen if Sarawak continues to rely on low skilled labour,” she said.
She further said engaging in lifelong learning offers everyone an equal opportunity to adjust to the demands of the country’s social and economic changes.
The setting up of the WOU regional office here provided opportunity to working adults to study for their tertiary qualifications online.
The university is playing its role in helping working adults to upgrade their knowledge and skills to contribute towards producing a knowledge-based society.
Also present were vice chancellor and chief executive officer of WOU Professor Dr Wong Tat Meng, deputy vice chancellor Dr Seah Soo Aun, directors of WOU’s Kuching regional office Chong Kong Hoong, and Jimmy Chai.