Fear not, says MP

SIBU: There is no need for the people to fear the government’s proposal to close down the Rajang Teachers’ Training College. Member of Parliament for Julau Datuk Joseph Salang said this was because the government would convert the college into a technical and vocational education centre for the state.

“The trend is now more for the world to shift from academic to vocational and technical education. “Many graduates are now getting less marketable compared to those with technical education and training,” he said when speaking at a “Simfoni Kasik 4.0 Projek” activity organised by the Betong Vocational College at Rh.Selikau in Nanga Selaut Tengah in here yesterday.

“There is the fear that Sarawak will not be able to produce 90 percent local teachers when the college is closed down in 2020. “But our universities are also producing trained teachers as well,” he said. Salang said the country needed for more technically qualified youthcompared to only administrators. “If we want to be a progressive nation we need to follow suit,” he said.

On the government’s intention to set up more technical and vocation institutions, he said this was a very good thing for the youth. “I am sure they will not be only learning to using the Bahasa Malaysia but will also be making use of English as the medium of instruction for some of the subjects they may take,” he said. Earlier in his speech the director of the Betong Vocational College, Lim Ah Juan said the activity was to sow and develop good social values and communication skill among its students. It is also to promote technical education among the state youth he said, adding that graduates of the college had no problem in securing jobs. He said although they had yet to graduate, some had been of f e red immedi at e jobs by employers.