Six from IKBN Miri among 40 picked for WorldSkills M’sia
MIRI: The Youth and Sports Ministry Training Institution (ILKBS) marked a milestone recently after 40 of its students qualified to compete in the final round of WorldSkills Malaysia Belia (WSMB) this coming October.
Youth and Sports Ministry deputy secretary-general (Strategic) Ramona Mohd Razali said they were chosen from among 200 students from 21 institutes under ILKBS, including the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) Miri.
“This is the highest number ever achieved by ILKBS compared to previous years.
“It is even more exciting as six of them are students of IKBN Miri, the institute that produced the most participants to the final round of WSMB this time. All six will compete in the field of Restaurant Service and Cooking at the WSMB final,” she said when officiating at the 12th IKBN Miri convocation recently.
Ramona further disclosed that five IKBN Miri students have also qualified for the final round of WorldSkills Malaysia Sarawak 2019 in the field of Automobile Technology, Restaurant Service and Cooking.
“Well done and congratulations to the students and I hope IKBN Miri in particular will be able to produce more participants for upcoming skills competitions at national and international levels.
“This clearly shows that KBS (Youth and Sports Ministry) is moving forward with the diversification of TVET (technical and vocational education and training) delivery methods while ensuring that every youth has the skills to improve their living standards through intensive training in collaboration with agencies such as the Ministry of Home Affairs, Malaysian Prisons Department and industry at various levels,” she pointed out.
According to Ramona, this year, KBS has introduced a special programme called MyFuture Youth Plus under the Skills Training at Risk @ Youth to reach out to at-risk youths.
The programme allows youths without Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia certificates to sign up for skills training at ILKBS.
“To date, we have provided training to 700 youths through the MyFuture Youth Plus programme.
“Of these, IKBN Miri alone has trained 50 participants for five courses, namely bead stitching, vehicle service basics, cake making, hair cutting, and makeup.
“I am very proud of the commitment and support given by the people of Miri, especially women, as 70 per cent of the participants are women. It is my hope that these participants will use the knowledge provided by IKBN Miri to either work in the field of entrepreneurship or further develop their knowledge to pursue their respective career,” she added.
Ramona pointed out that the ministry has been and is taking various initiatives through the 2017-2020 ILKBS Transformation Empowerment Programme towards enhancing the marketability of its graduates.
One of the approaches taken by IKBN Miri is to make the institute as one of the accredited centres recognised by the American Welding Society (AWS) Certificate Recognition Centre – the only institute in Sarawak to receive such recognition.
“This certification has opened the door for key industry players in Sarawak in particular and Malaysia to come up with strategic partnerships with IKBN Miri.
“It is the highest recognition for IKBN Miri in its quest to produce more quality students and thus increase student marketability among the major industry players, particularly those related to the oil and gas industry in Sarawak,” she added.
Youth Skills Development Section director Dr Wasitah Mohd Yusof and IKBN Miri director Lamat Nyalau were among those present at the ceremony. MIRI: Riam Road Secondary School (RRSS) CEO, Dato’ Fong Onn Min is retiring next month.
Sharing an emotional note at RRSS annual concert which wrapped up last Saturday, Fong described the concert as his final concert in his professional life with the ups and downs making his career a wonderful journey.
“Whether it was in government or private school, I am very lucky to have met and worked with many people and more importantly, I have brought and witnessed these school at its heights. The students whom I’ve seen grown to be fine men and women, they are the future of our country (sic),” he said, stressing that it is very important for teachers and principals to give their all to shape the students similar to that of candle that consumes itself while lighting others.
“A good teacher doesn’t only teach, but nurtures the younger generation to become a person with knowledge, wisdom, capable, charitable, independent, creative, fair and just.
“Despite having bad days, which sometimes associated with criticisms and unkind words, it is always good to put it aside and to just focus on educating the students, because they are actually the most important in a teacher’s career,” he advised.
Fong who was awarded Tokoh Guru by Sarawak government this year, also expressed his gratitude to the government and politicians from both sides for their support towards education and RRSS.
Miri MP Dr Michael Teo who attended the event handed a cheque of RM90,000 to RRSS in support of the school management and expenses.
The two-night concert at Miri Civic Centre was also attended by assistant CEO, Chan Siew Ngo, board of director’s members, teachers, students and parents.