PENAMPANG: Related ministries and agencies need to strengthen commitment and cooperation with technical and vocational institutions, towards meeting the growing demand for skilled workers among the rapidly growing industries in Sabah.
Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, Datuk Siringan Gubat said there were numerous courses provided at many institutes in the State and it was vital for the youth to know the options available for them, especially as technical and vocational sector was increasingly becoming a preferred choice to build a career.
Officiating at the Skills Training Exhibition at Buhavan Square here yesterday, Siringan said apart from the Department of Human Resource Development (JPSM) there were many other government and private agencies and organizations providing technical courses, especially for school leavers.
The demand for such courses, he said, was very encouraging with the department receiving applications way higher than it could accommodate every year.
The employment rate of trainees who have completed their courses was also very good with most of them getting a job soon after graduation, he added.
“I don’t have the statistics at the moment but the success of JPSM programmes has been very encouraging. Every year, many of the graduates, although not 100 per cent, managed to find employment.
“The courses provided by JPSM attract employers because the students are well trained and there are many courses to choose from. So, we are proud of this achievement, especially as JPSM is the oldest provider of skills training courses in Sabah. The department’s contribution to the community is undeniable,” he said.
JPSM Sabah director Billy Yumbod said currently 13 different skills training were provided by the department, each catering for only a small batch of some 20 trainees.
The intake for this year has started their courses since January while the enrollment for next year’s courses will begin in October.
“The response was overwhelming. A lot have applied but places are limited so we have to take priority students, namely those who are not offered to continue their studies anywhere else. On average, we take in about 20 students for each course.
“Last year we received about 1,130 applications for the courses this year, but we could only take over 200 trainees,” he said.
Asked if the Ministry has any plan to expand JPSM courses to accommodate more trainees, Siringan said unsuccessful applicants could always apply for courses offered by either departments or technical training institutes.
Those who managed to secure a place in the JPSM programme however would be receive a full funding for their training, he said.
On the exhibition, he said the event was part of the JPSM’s annual programme to expose local youths across the State to technical training courses made available locally by government as well as private sectors.
“This is not of one-off programme, we have many similar events in other districts. This is in line with the JPSM’s role to promote technical skills training among the youth, to give opportunities especially to SPM and STPM graduates,” he said.