Club eyes full varsity enrolment of Belaga youths taking part in ‘Jom Masuk U’
KUCHING: The ‘Jom Masuk U’ programme hopes to retain its 100per cent success rate in assisting and arranging for Belaga youths to further into tertiary studies for the third conservative year.
According to Assistant Minister of River Transportation and Safety Liwan Lagang, 88 students from SMK Belaga and SMK Bakun who took part last year are now studying at the institutions of higher learning of their choice.
This year, the two- day ‘Jom Masuk U’ programme, which concluded yesterday, engaged 80 students from the same two schools.
Throughout the programme, the youngsters were involved in many activities including field trips to many institutions of higher learning.
“Last year, we achieved 100 per cent ( success rate). This year, we hope all 80 students would be enrolled in their preferred institutions,” said Liwan – also Belagaassemblyman–inofficiating at the start of Sarawak Belaga Youth Club’s seventh anniversary dinner here on Saturday.
According to him, this year’s programme has received RM30,000 sponsorship from Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB).
“Jom Masuk U serves as an exposure and awareness for students, enabling them to identify the opportunities available when it comes to furthering their studies after finishing secondary school.
“There are lots of opportunities – even if they failed to be enrolled in any university’s academic courses, the students could opt for technical education, which is known to offer better job prospects and higher incomes,” he said.
On the Sarawak Belaga Youth Club, Liwan said it served to provide assistance to Belaga youths in terms of identifying available education opportunities, in view of the huge gap between the rural and urban areas.
Apart from that, he said the club would help the youths in applying for entry into their institutions of choice and also getting familiarised in the new varsity environment.
On a personal note, Liwan disclosed that education remained a subject close to his heart and thus, he assured club members his full endorsement to any educational programme organised by them.
“I really appreciate the club for its contribution in assisting and arranging for Belaga youths to be enrolled into institutions of higher learning,” he said.
Moreover, Liwan also reminded Belaga youths to equip themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge in order to become prominent individuals in the future.
“However, they must never forget their culture and good values; never be involved in social ills.”
Later, Liwan announced an allocation of RM15,000 for Sarawak Belaga Youth Club as an incentive for the members to conduct their activities.
Topping this up, Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon also pledged RM10,000 for the club at the same event, which was also attended by Balai Ringin assemblyman Snowdan Lawan.