BETONG: The government is always committed to giving the best education opportunities to the people.
For this reason, according to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, a number of institutions of higher learning are found in rural areas in Sarawak.
These institutions enjoy the same recognition or standard as those found in urban areas, Uggah said when officiating at the third graduation ceremony of Betong Metro Polytechnic here today.
A total of 64 graduates in finance and banking and 66 in tourism management received their diplomas.
“We will not differentiate between the urban or rural areas or between the sexes, races or the rich and poor in our efforts.
“A good education will be very instrumental for us in developing the country and the people,” he said.
The Sarawak government, he stressed, would give its full co-operation to the federal government in making a success of its education programmes to produce more skilled workers to meet its Sarawak Corridor Of Renewable Energy (Score) requirements.
Uggah, however, advised all institutions to tailor their courses to the job market to ensure employment for their graduates.
“Like other countries in the world, we are embracing the fourth industrial revolution (also known as Industry 4.0) now.
“This industry is about innovation and the need for the people to accustom themselves to new technology where the future will be helmed by robotic technology and artificial intelligence.”
Uggah said academic programmes such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) should be enhanced as well as strengthened in accordance with this revolution.
Such programmes could help the nation produce graduates who could face the challenges of Industry 4.0, he said.
Sarawak, Uggah said, would need more skilled workers in the technical and service sectors to help it became a developed state by 2030.
“We have Score as the vehicle to achieve this,” he said.
Meanwhile, he was glad to note that Betong Metro Polytechnic’s graduates had enjoyed an employability rate of 97.27 per cent.
He also urged them not to rest on their laurels but to continue their studies to an even higher level.
