Scheme to enhance life of Sabahans launched
KOTA KINABALU: Eight hundred and forty-seven people in Sabah have the chance to enhance their quality of life through the Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) scheme.
The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) initiative was launched for the first time in the state with the second highest number of participants from the Federation of JPK Accredited Centres Malaysia (FeMAC) and the Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (PERHEBAT) out of the nation’s total of 7,328 in 2018.
The scheme, a formal recognition and certification of technical and management skills, knowledge and experience gained from work, life or previous study, offers a stepping stone towards better mobility and job marketability for local workers.
“I really hope, after this, I will be able to get a promotion or payrise,” said former Malaysian Armed Forces Senior Special Branch senior investigation officer Mokreh Muhamad, 49, whose highest qualification was an ‘O’ level.
The unsung hero, who in the past had contributed to the successful investigation of a robbery involving a timber merchant at the Indonesian borders, is currently chief security for a national supermarket branch in Inanam.
Prior to that Mokreh, who took a security course through the scheme, did odd jobs after retiring without penchant.
“This program could help in terms of qualification, from the bottom to the diploma level,” said the father of six children aged between four months and 24.
“It is the modern times and finances after the army life is not yet that very stable. I hope with this I would have better opportunities to provide for my family,” he said during the RPEL 2018 graduation program at an international chain hotel here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Wong Nyuk Chiang hopes the scheme would help her to become a better Chinese Language teacher at the preschool and daycare she is working at.
The 54-year-old said teaching the children, many amongst them do not speak the language, brings her great joy on top of contributing to the development of future generations.
“I feel this had increased my experience and worth as a teacher. I have learned a lot from this sixmonth course, which I feel would increase my value as a worker,” shared Wong, who took an early childhood learning education course.
RPEL helps recipients attain a diploma under the Malaysia Skills Certification and open more doors for further study, job prospect and higher salary opportunities.
The program increases the number of workers from the Bottom 40 percent (B40) income group and improve the health of the economy by reducing the nation’s current 3.3 unemployment rate.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is to invest in both education and the reskilling, upskillling and multiskilling of the local talents as these are factors that are crucial to improving social mobility and the wellbeing of the rakyat as a whole,” said Human Resources Minister Dato Sri (Dr) Richard Riot Anak Jaem, whose speech was delivered by secretary general Dato Dr Mohd Gazali Abas earlier during the ceremony.
“I believe we are on the right path towards the 35% target of skilled workers in reaching the high income country status by 2020,” he added.
HRDF, an agency under the Human Resources Ministry, was given the mandate to help with the development of human capital through RPEL.
“This scheme recognizes the experience and skills of workers who have no paper qualifications, reduces their financial burden by improving employability, contributes to a better opportunity for high income and increases the percentage of high skilled workforce,” said HDRF CEO Datuk CM Vignaesvaran Jeyandran in his speech.
More than 300 trainees received their scrolls at the graduation ceremony here. A similar graduation ceremony was held in Sarawak earlier and another one will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur next Thursday.