Sungai Asap get to grips with TVET potential

MIRI: A two-day Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) community skills empowerment initiative was carried out in Sungai Asap.

The Oct 25-26 programme was a joint effort by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development and Sarawak Skills Miri branch.

A total of 136 participants from villages around Sungai Asap, Belaga, engaged in a range of practical workshops, including on electrical wiring, hydroponic farming, oil palm cultivation, and an Arduino basics course.

The programme also catered to local students, with participation from SMK Bakun and SK Batu Keling, providing young learners with foundational technical skills.

It was the second large-scale community outreach effort by Sarawak Skills as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The event brought together 30 staff members from Sarawak Skills Miri, the Sarawak Agriculture Vocational Training Institute (SAVTI), and representatives from the ministry to provide hands-on skills training.

“This initiative is an important step to introducing and promoting TVET education to the local community, giving students, parents, and other community members the chance to acquire valuable skills they can use in daily life,” said Amy Francis Najur, Deputy Executive Director of Corporate Services at Sarawak Skills.

“We hope these programmes serve as stepping stones for participants to build on their knowledge and skills, enhancing their potential and creating new opportunities,” she added.

The initiative also included a solar lighting donation from the ministry, represented by Halina Haron Abdillah, head of the Talent Development Section, to 18 villages and two schools as a gesture of appreciation for the community’s enthusiastic participation.