KUCHING: The reason many graduates are unemployed today is the lack of English proficiency, said Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin.
The minister said in both the public and private sectors, most employers would want to accept job seekers who are well verse in English language.
“Yes, in the public sector we do use Bahasa Malaysia, but most of the private sector would prefer their employees to know English,” he said at the 8th Sarawak Career Fair and Training (SCAT) Fair 2019, at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
He said in industries, most machine manuals are written in English, and when employees could not understand English they were not allowed to operate the machines.
“That is why it is high time we pay attention to our proficiency in English,” he stressed.
Manyin said one other reason why job seekers failed to land a job was because of the kind of courses they were pursuing as students.
“For instance those taking social science courses will find it hard to land a job, unlike those who take Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET),” he said.
“Those from technical institutions, 80 to 90 per cent of them are able to get a job after six months upon graduation,” he said.
He said in the past there was a stigma on TVET vocational schools where students were seen as the non-performers.
“But today time has changed, so parents, please, if your children are interested in technical field do send them to TVET schools.
“After they have completed their SPM or STPM, they can always further their studies to Diploma or Degree level in the technical field,” he stressed.
Manyin said children must not undergo the demoralising experience of investing three to four years to get a degree or acquire a skill only to find there is little or no demand for their talents.
“It is very sad and disturbing to see some of our graduates joining the ranks of the unemployed or underemployed, especially when there are many good paying jobs waiting to be filled with the right qualifications and training.”
