Premier: Sarawak gears up for skilled workforce by 2030 with education reforms

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Sagah (third left) visits the UTS booth at the SCaT Fair, accompanied by Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing (first left) and Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee (second left). – Photo by Sarawak Public Communications Unit

KUCHING (Oct 5): It is imperative for our young Sarawakians to receive quality education and skills training to meet the demand of the future workforce, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

As Sarawak is gearing towards the green and digital economy, he said the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) has been tasked to carry out talent development initiatives to achieve a skilled workforce target of 30 per cent by 2030.

“As we navigate the new economy, we must develop a highly-skilled, innovative workforce that is capable of earning higher income,” said Abang Johari, whose text speech was read by Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn at the launching of the two-day Sarawak Career and Training Fair (SCaT Fair) here today.

To achieve this goal, he said there is a need to transform the education system and empower the people to innovate.

“By 2026, Sarawak will offer free education for our students at state-owned tertiary institutions, whereby we will also provide assistance for learning aids and subsidise the repayment for the National Higher Education Fund Corp (PTPTN) loans,” he said.

He added the Sarawak government is committed to ensuring that all Sarawakians either in the urban or rural areas enjoy the benefits of these development plans.

Among the government’s lined-up plans, he said, were the setting-up of the Sarawak Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre which is to commence work next year and a pilot ‘Common Science Lab’ that will be launched sometime this year at the Biovalley in Senadin, Miri.

On top of that, he said the first cohort of 14 trainees had recently completed their training on the Analog Integrated Circuit (IC) Design and IC Test Solution Development Engineering with the SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd, a state-owned entity.

“The second cohort has also started in September,” he said, adding that the MEITD has been supporting the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (Unimas) target of achieving Malaysia Technical University Network (MTUN) accreditation by 2026.

This, he said, will make Unimas the first university in East Malaysia to gain this status.

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