SIBURAN: Today’s students were reminded of their responsibility to continue the pace of development to realise the vision of making Sarawak a developed region by the year 2030.
Deputy Minister of Transport (Air and Roads) Datuk Dr Jerip Susil when giving the reminder, said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government, under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has shown seriousness in raising the level of the state’s education to produce Sarawakians who are intelligent and skilled in various fields.
He said the Sarawak government, in collaboration with Yayasan Sarawak, has and is implementing various initiatives in that direction, including establishing several higher education institutions and skill training centres such as Swinburne University, Curtin University, the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), i-CATS University College, and the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS).
“These efforts are being made to ensure that Sarawak students do not drop out of getting education and skills at the university level,” he said when officiating the Siburan District Education Expo at the Siburan Hall here today.
In addition, Dr Jerip said Yayasan Sarawak also provides educational funding to eligible students who meet the set criteria to further their studies.
In this way, he said, financial problems are no longer a big obstacle for young people to further their education in higher education institutions, especially in universities and training centres owned by the Sarawak government.
According to him, Sarawak is in dire need of a skilled and knowledgeable workforce in various fields to fill the job opportunities that will be created in an effort to drive development and the state’s economy.
Thus, he urged Sarawakians who have high education and skills to contribute towards the development of Sarawak.
“We don’t want the job opportunities provided later to be filled by outsiders.
“We want our own state to be developed by our own people,” he added.
Accordingly, Dr Jerip praised the efforts made by Yayasan Sarawak in organising such an educational expo because it will enable students to know and choose the courses provided at universities and training centres.
At the ceremony, the Mambong assemblyman also presented excellent certificates to 13 excellent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) premium savings worth RM500 for each outstanding student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Siburan, SMK Tun Abdul Razak, and SMK Padawan.
