By MARISA SULU
EMPHASIS is being placed on the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to produce the much-needed human capital to support the state’s development initiatives.
This is also to support Sarawak’s ongoing effort to transform the state’s economy into a digital economy, hence there is an urgent need to equip Sarawak’s workforce with knowledge and skills in line with the current and future needs of various sectors of industry.
One of these efforts is the establishment of Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) in 2012, which has served as a platform to promote TVET among Sarawakian youth, especially those in the rural areas through numerous high-impact programmes, such as the Sarawak Career and Training Fair (SCaT Fair), Project of Dreams Realised Roadshow (Pro-DR), Training and Industrial Awareness (TRIA).
TEGAS is now recognised as the catalyst for creativity and innovation and has been tasked to promote Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which is one of the strategic enablers under the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018-2025.
Meanwhile, turning University Technology Sarawak (UTS) into a full-fledged university belonging to the Sarawak government is expected to further help prepare Sarawak to produce graduates for a competitive digital economy of the future by producing a technologically and digitally savvy generation.
Launched by Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Nov 10, UTS is set to be a university that does not only focus on academics alone but also skills and first-hand experience, including spearheading the TVET agenda.
The introduction of the scholarship scheme with an 80 per cent tuition fee reduction for 100 Bumiputera and 100 non-Bumiputera students studying in UTS by the state government has improved the intake rate thus enhancing the much-needed human capital in the state.
The Centre of Technical Excellence (CENTEXS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Yayasan Sarawak, was given the responsibility to train and upskill the young generation to meet the technical needs and requirements of industries focusing on the trade of oil and gas, electrical and port, construction as well as textile and hospitality.
In order to enhance TVET and STEM education to produce human capital to support the state’s development initiatives, it was found that that there is a need for intervention from an early age.
Thus, the Sarawak government through the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development has created various initiatives to promote STEM in Sarawak including the Friends of Astronomy Roadshow, STEM Playground as well as collaboration with higher institutions, research institutions, schools, non-governmental organisations, and the public and private sectors.
In order to increase the level of STEM literacy among the public in Sarawak, the ministry has also taken various initiatives including the set-up of the Sarawak Science Centre (estimated to be completed by 2024) to serve as a platform to inculcate interest and appreciation in science and technology among the younger generation and the public.
In line with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and to achieve 60 per cent of students in STEM by the year 2030 the ministry continuously develops and implements policies and legislation related to digital education, training, and upskilling for employment.
