KOTA KINABALU: State education exco Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun has called on youths in Sabah to take up courses or skills training that can make them marketable.
By doing so, it would ensure that they will be able to get employment once they finish their training and studies, he said at the inaugural convocation of graduates from the Kimanis Training Centre (KTC) yesterday.
Masidi pointed out that one reason why many graduates are unemployed is because they are unable to match their qualifications with the jobs that are available in the market.
There must also be a change in the youths’ mindset about higher education, he stressed, adding that youths nowadays should give technical courses a try as skills like welding and in air-conditioning are in demand.
“We need to change and not be too obsessed with paper qualifications. We must look at technical courses which can make you more marketable, and even if the courses offered are only certificate level, take it because you can get a job and still go a step further for the diploma and higher qualifications after you are employed.
“Take, for instance, air-conditioning, this is a sector that needs lots of manpower because more and more buildings are now fitted with air-conditioning which needs regular service. This is where more technicians are needed,” he stressed.
He added: “We must be realistic to see our own potential and build up a career from there.”
Masidi, who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, also advised youths not to be embarrassed if they do not have a good command of English because they can learn and master it when they are taking their courses.
On the convocation, he said that it was an historical moment for KTC, Petronas and Sabah, adding: “We now have a platform to progress and move forward.
Masidi also pointed out that much has been said about Petronas of late and he expressed the hope that the convocation can convince the people about the company’s sincerity to help Sabah.
He lauded Petronas’ efforts in supporting the state’s education and human capital development and added: “This is indeed a positive development. The fact that the graduates from the first batch have all been employed and offered employment is a testimony to the quality of trainees produced by KTC.
Meanwhile, senior vice president of Petronas Group Human Resource Management, Raiha Azni Abdul Rahman, said that Petronas is committed to ensure that youths in Sabah will be given the opportunity to be part of the oil and gas industry boom.
The graduation was held simultaneously for trainees from the 2011 and 2012 intakes who completed their training in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The first intake of 23 graduates have all been offered jobs by companies providing services to the oil and gas industry, while the second intake, comprising 24 trainees, completed their training in June this year and are ready to be hired by the industry.