Martin John Madden
KUCHING: Dayak students wanting to pursue short courses on technical subjects to improve their job marketability have been asked to seek financial aid from Yayasan Pendidikan Teknikal Rakyat Sarawak (Yayasan Teras).
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth education bureau chairman Martin John Madden said students, especially from rural areas, should not miss the opportunity offered by Yayasan Teras.
He pointed out that there is great demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
“This (financial aid) will enable more students from the rural areas to able to attend courses in the colleges in the major towns and cities, as finance has always been a major obstacle for them.
“We hope many students will take advantage of the financial aid available to them. They must grab this opportunity because once they graduate and work they will be able to lift up the economic position of their communities and also contribute to the development of the state,” he said.
The PRS Youth exco member said this in a statement in support of party president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, who recently announced that Yayasan Teras is expanding its scholarships to Dayak students attending short certificate courses in any technical discipline. Previously Yayasan Teras only offered sponsorship to students taking technical studies at diploma and degree levels.
Yayasan Teras was established in 1996 by the now defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) Education Bureau. PRS is an offshoot of PBDS.
Based on previous reports, the foundation has spent nearly RM2 million on scholarships and many of the recipients are now gainfully employed.