KUCHING: Students from low-income families wishing to further their studies in technical vocational education and training (TVET) at Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) will have their burden lightened with the formation of ‘Yayasan Ilmu Sarawak’ (YIS) on Oct 31.
PPKS executive director Datuk Baharudin Abdullah said the foundation had been given the green light by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who will also serve as patron.
“YIS will be launched by the Head of State at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching and during the ceremony, large corporations and companies will be contributing funds as part of their corporate social responsibility towards the foundation, which will go towards sponsoring PPKS students in furthering their TVET studies,” he told a press conference in conjunction with Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah’s visit to PPKS yesterday.
According to him, Taib will be donating RM100,000 to the foundation.
Meanwhile, Fatimah, who is also PPKS board member, said the formation of YIS was crucial in providing assistance to students from low-income families who wished to further their studies at PPKS.
“In addition, the foundation will also be contributing towards the success of these students in acquiring high-income occupations which will in turn help their family come out of the poverty cycle,” she emphasised.
During the press conference, Baharudin also announced that PPKS will be hosting the World Technical Vocational Education & Training Conference 2014 from August 25 to 27 next year.
Themed ‘Transformation & Globalisation of Technical Vocational Education and Training – Living Skills in 21st Century’, the three-day conference is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates from throughout the globe.
Those who wish to learn more on the conference can log on to www.worldTVET2015.com.my.