Tvet students need to go for pioneer training — CM

0

Abang Johari speaking during the convocation. — Photos by Chimon Upon

Abang Johari (second left), Abdul Aziz (left) and Hallman (right) smile as Broerslers Rinah (third right) and Rebecca Rudang Paul (second right) are presented with their Petronas Excellence Award and mock cheque for their achievements by Petronas Sarawak Regional Office general manager Shamsur Taha (third left).

KUCHING: Industry players in the state are urged to actively train and improve the skills of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet) students through pioneer training programmes much like what is being practised in Germany.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this is in line with the state government’s efforts in placing emphasis on Tvet so as to produce quality and productive human capital to support various initiatives related to the state’s development.

“In Germany, trainees are trained for three days in the industry and two days at training centres for three years.

“What’s interesting here is that funding from the government is minimal and the trainees also receive a monthly allowance,” he said at the 20th Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) and International College of Advanced Technology (i-CATS) convocation at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here yesterday.

He pointed out that the role played by the industry in developing human capital is huge and, as such, expressed his hope to see the ‘dual-training system’ practised in Germany implemented in Sarawak.

Abang Johari also noted that with initiatives such as the Industry 4.0 Programme and Digital Economy, it has become even more crucial to empower Tvet graduates.

He said it is important for graduates today to have the skills to contribute to economic development through education and technical training based on industry expectations.

“This era is an exciting one particularly for Sarawak as the state government has implemented various initiatives for the state’s economic development.”

The state government’s main focus, he added, include prioritising the development of rural infrastructure, digital economy, affordable housing, Light Rail Transit (LRT) as well as industrial sector development such as agriculture, education, tourism and petro-chemical.

“To support this initiative, the state government has set up the Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) and Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), among others.

“Apart from that, we will soon have our very own methanol plant in Bintulu which will be operating next year. This will involve many skilled manpower and specialists in the field of chemical engineering and other related engineering.”

On PPKS and i-CATS’ convocation, Abang Johari expressed his pride over the higher learning institutions’ achievement, having trained youths in skills through programmes  accredited by the Department of Skills Development Malaysia.

He said the benefits of the skills programmes offered by PPKS and i-CATS were that graduates have the option to either continue with higher education or find jobs with their certificates or diplomas.

Since its inception in 1994, PPKS has trained nearly 50,000 graduates, and 82 per cent of its graduates managed to secure jobs six months after completing their training.

Also present were PPKS chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Hussain who is also i-CATS president, PPKS executive director Hallman Sabri and i-CATS chief executive Mohd Isham Fauzi.