SIBURAN: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills should no longer be underestimated; instead, they are a viable path to earning a substantial income.
Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin stated that the negative perceptions towards skill-based fields need to be countered, and it would be beneficial if the younger generation seized the opportunities within these fields.
“For example, nowadays, we see that mechanics are not looked down upon as they were in the past. Back then, motorbike and car mechanics were not highly regarded. But now, when we do the maths, a mechanic’s income is roughly equivalent to a doctor’s.
“Doctors study for seven years and charge around RM40 to RM80 per patient visit. Similarly, mechanics train for about a year or less. In one day, they can service 100 cars, and each car repair may cost RM60, with the minimum being RM50.
“So, if there are 100 cars a day, that’s RM500 per day, comparable to a doctor’s earnings,” he said during the launch of the Community Upskilling Programme at the Gawai Dayak Carnival 2024 at Dewan Manggeng Kampung Masaan, Siburan, today.
He emphasised that strengthening TVET aligns with Sarawak’s focus on a new economy driven by knowledge, research, technology, and innovation, aiming to become a developed region by 2030.
He stated that adapting technology is crucial for enhancing productivity and efficiency within an organisation.
“Seeing Sarawak as a significant economic power, it is appropriate for the workforce to be equipped with competitive and highly resilient skills.
“These competitive skills will safeguard the economy, forming a robust economic base that will surely attract foreign investors to Sarawak,” he said.
Willie highlighted that, as a region with high commercial resource potential, it is imperative for Sarawakians to explore these resources to generate sustainable income.
Therefore, he urged the people of Sarawak to seize the opportunity to attend TVET courses, which can lead to job opportunities and income from the acquired skills.
In related developments, he revealed that the Sarawak Center of Technical Excellence (CENTEXS) and Sarawak Skills have provided six upskilling courses for program participants.
The six courses are soap making, pastry making, basic electrical wiring, traditional textile weaving (selampai burik), basic air conditioning maintenance, and mushroom cultivation.
The event was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak, Datuk Azmi Bujang, and the Resident of Kuching Division, Dayang Joanita Azizah Abang Morshidi.
