‘Encourage children to go into technical, vocational fields’

BINTULU: Parents should encourage their children to venture into technical and vocational fields instead of only emphasising on the usual academic pursuit as there is a good demand for skilled workers from Sarawak’s industrial sector.

“Technical and vocational education can provide its graduates with a wide range of job opportunities in the future.

“This is especially so as Sarawak is experiencing rapid industrial development,” Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research deputy permanent secretary Dr Abdul Rahman Deen spoke at the closing of a ‘ Training and Industrial Awareness 2.0’ programme here on Monday.

Over 100 Form 3 students from 10 secondary schools here – including those from Sebauh, Tatau and Belaga – attended the three- day programme run by the ministry, in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, Mara Skills Institute Bintulu and Advanced Technology Training Centre (Adtec) Bintulu.

Abdul Rahman was confident that the programme would help expose students to career opportunities available in the technical and vocational sector.

“Students must give more emphasis to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in order to move forward,” he added.

Adtec Bintulu director Nasaruddin Mohammad was among those present at the event.

Mohidin (front, second right) hands over the donations to a representative of the fire victims, as Lai and Hii (front right and left, respectively) look on.