Unemployed grads urged to enrol in short courses to boost marketability
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Unemployed university graduates have been urged by the Higher Education Ministry to enrol in short courses under the Lifelong Learning Programme (PSH) offered at community colleges to increase their knowledge and help them secure a job.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Mansor Othman said the move would increase their technical as well as entrepreneurial skills.
“The ministry intends to strengthen PSH to increase the marketability of students and youth, not to mention local communities, especially during the Covid-19 (pandemic).
“Entrepreneurial knowledge is important for people to continue living when they lose their job.”
He said this after offici- ating the Caring Malaysia Tour programme and the Entrepreneurship and Innovative Community Cultivation (KPKI) programme through Laser Technology at Seberang Jaya Community College yesterday.
He said PSH, which was introduced in 2002, offered short courses to the public, adding that up to Dec 31 last year, 2,968,966 participants had taken part in the programme, with 141,624 offerings of short courses.
Last year, 1,289 persons with disabilities, 1,583 single mothers, 20,375 individuals from the abject poor group, 47,590 youths, 2,711 senior citizens and 382 Orang Asli had enrolled in short courses offered under the programme, he added.
Mansor said among the skills courses with the highest participation last year were catering, computer and information technology, self-development and motivation, graphics and multimedia, business and entrepreneurship, tailoring, beauty and grooming, industrial programmes, spirituality and religion as well as electrical and electronics.
He presented RM17,000 in allocation to upgrade the laser cutter machine at the college.
Mansor said 12 youths from the Nibong Tebal community had attended a souvenir-making course, where they were taught to use the machine and start their own business, under the KPKI initiative.