Swak govt ensures employability for future graduates

KUCHING: The Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) has ensured that the initiative for free tertiary education in the state will translate into tangible outcomes, particularly in terms of job availability for university graduates.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said that in view of the matter, several strategic measures have been outlined by the Sarawak government.

“These include fostering continuous engagements and collaborations with Institutes of Higher Learning to shape curricula in line with industry requirements.

“Such synergistic networking is pivotal in ensuring the education programs are finely tuned to meet the demands of the job market.

“While at the same time, the ministry also hopes that our industries could reciprocate by moving up the value chain, so as to provide job opportunities in tandem with the qualifications of our graduates,” he said in a written reply dated June 7 to Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap.

Earlier, Yap had submitted questions for written replies in the First Meeting of the Third Session of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on education and job opportunities which were important current issues raise by Sarawakians.

He had asked for a written reply on the impact resulting from free tertiary education planned for all qualified Sarawakian youths by 2026, after many parents have raised their concerns to him that it could result in producing more graduates without enough job openings, which may lead to many graduates being unemployed.

As such, Yap had asked the ministry on what were the strategies of the Sarawak government to ensure that there will be enough jobs for those with a university degree.