Organisers urged to go one step further with helping participants after courses
KOTA KINABALU: Organisers of skill or entrepreneurship courses are urged to go one step further and assist the participants after they complete the courses.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Yakub Khan suggested that course organisers also help the participants to find ways to market their products.
He pointed out that because they do not have connection or networking to market their products, some of the participants do not pursue the opportunities in the field they now have the skills in.
Yakub is of the opinion that course organizers need to discuss with potential buyers or wholesalers on behalf of the participants so that their products can be marketed.
“This is something I noticed, the lack of marketing space and opportunity has resulted in course participants not following through after completing their course.
“In fact some of them have even invested in the necessary equipment to start their business but because they do not have assistance to market the product, they end up losing interest and selling off their equipment,” Yakub lamented.
Speaking at the closing of a seafood processing course here on Thursday, the Karambunai assemblyman stressed that the course participants would be able to market their products widely if they are assisted by government agencies such as the state Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry.
He also pointed out that a startup capital is also very important and this is where government agencies like Tekun Nasional and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) can help course participants.
Yakub also praised the participants for their commitment to the sevenday course and hope that they will be able to use the skills they acquired to earn better income and improve their socioeconomy.