KUCHING: Kuching District Education Expo (Padawan sub-district) is a good platform to get the latest information on courses and fields of study offered by institutions of higher learning.
Deputy Minister for Transport Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said the Sarawak Foundation’s initiative is an effort to ensure that Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) school leavers get the latest information on educational opportunities available in Sarawak.
He said Sarawak needs a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to develop the state and achieve the status of a developed state by 2030.
“Investment in human development is a very important asset and the main driving force in developing Sarawak.
“Therefore, this is where the younger generation should be aware of the opportunities that will be provided,” said Dr Jerip in his text of speech read by Padawan District Education Officer Dr Abang Adam Abang Deli at the launching ceremony of the Kuching District Education Expo (Padawan Sub -District), at Dewan Mesra, SMK Penrissen No 1, here yesterday.
The younger generations need to fill the vacancies that would guarantee a career for them and we do not want the vacancies to be filled by outsiders, he pointed out.
Dr Jerip also said that the initiative to organise expos in all districts would be able to avoid the issue of students dropping out to further their studies due to logistics or remote isolation and so on.
He said the Sarawak government, through the Sarawak Foundation, has established institutions of higher learning and skills institutions in the state.
“These establishments are an effort to ensure the children of Sarawak are able to further their education, both academic and skills,” he explained.
Apart from that, he said, the presence of Yayasan Sarawak in this expo also enabled the audience to get information on the sponsorship provided by them.
Sarawak students who are able to further their studies at institutions of higher learning also receive sponsorship from the Sarawak Foundation, the deputy minister added.
“This means that financial problems are not the main issue for us to improve ourselves,” he said.
In this regard, he called on students to use this opportunity to the best of their ability, especially SPM students.
Meanwhile, he said, students who will sit for the SPM and STPM examinations to use this opportunity to get guidance and advice from representatives of existing institutions.
A total of six exhibition booths were opened at the expo, namely by Sarawak Foundation, Curtin University, Sarawak Skill, Centexs, Swinburne University and the Land and Survey Department.
Also present were Padawan sub-district officer Julius Scott Sapong and SMK Penrissen No 1 Principal, Abit Hong.
