Len Talif fields questions from members of the media.
SIBU: The state is supportive of early streaming of students into academic and technical fields as early as in Form One, said Assistant Minister for Workforce Development and Training Datu Len Talif Salleh.
“This is what we have been trying to convey to the federal government. First and foremost, there should not be any change in policy half way through; we must be consistent because it takes a long time for it to take effect.
“So, in fact, we are supportive and we have been trying to convince the federal government to start it (streaming of students into academic and technical fields) as early as in Form One.
“For that matter, we should have some programmes even at primary school levels on how we can engage pupils so that they will be interested in vocational studies.
“If we consider from the aspect of students, especially in the rural areas – this is one area in which they are very weak while from the aspect on the command of English Language – this is one area which we should emphasise on,” he told reporters when met here on Saturday night.
Len Talif said this when asked on the early streaming of students into academic and technical fields.
He added: “In fact, all of us started our school in English for that matter. There should not be any problem. So, nowadays students should be exposed as early as possible, even in primary one; even in kindergarten for that matter.
“Because I have seen a lot of our young people in kindergartens if they have been exposed to English, they have that sort of confidence in conversing in the language. So, it should not be a problem.”
Asked if some parents were still reluctant to send their children for technical and vocational institutions, he noted there had been an increase in the awareness among parents, teachers and students on the subject matter.
In actual fact, from that the data which he had seen from 2011 until now, the percentage of students going into technical and vocational education was actually about 67 per cent.
Meaning, more than 40 per cent of those places that were available in the institutions were not being filled up, he noted.
Len Talif said: “But nowadays, it is up to almost 90 per cent are being filled up – meaning, there is a lot of awareness among students, parents and teachers to encourage their children to go into technical and vocational studies especially those who have no interest in academic side – those who do not intend to pursue in term of going for diploma, matriculation and so on.”
Citing an example, in Matang Technical School – the available places were 5,000 and now they have 5,200 students there.
Hence, he said there was no lack of enthusiasm now among the students as well as parents in sending their children to technical and vocational schools.
Asked if Sarawak was on track to produce 1.3 million workers by 2030 to meet the demand by industries, he said while they could produce in terms of number, there were other factors that needed to be taken into consideration.
“If we look at the figure, yes (this is achievable) but there are a lot of other factors. While we can produce in terms of number, at the end of the day, some of those students with technical skills or diplomas might want to venture outside the state for whatever reasons – for higher salary, getting exposure – this is one of the areas we should look at on how to attract those who have the certificate and relevant skills to stay in the state,” he explained.
Towards this end, he said there was a mechanism to monitor firms in the state to provide reasonable salaries to commensurate with workers’ skills.