BETONG: Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) will need between 20,000 and 30,000 technicians by 2030; thus, students have been told to take up science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said students, including those in rural areas, need to be encouraged and inspired in these subjects, especially at primary schools.
He believed that students who could excel in such subjects could pursue technical careers to accommodate the state’s increasing needs for a workforce in the field.
“It is in the technical fields that are going to create plenty of new job opportunities.
“Sarawak is, after all, embracing technical-oriented carbon trading, green, digital, and hydrogen economies, to name a few.
“As a matter of fact, just a few days ago I had a conversation with PETROS chief executive officer Janin Girie in Kuching, where he told me that they are going to need between 20,000 and 30,000 technicians by 2030,” he said at Sekolah Kebangsaan Nanga Gayau’s 61st anniversary celebration in Spaoh last night (July 7).
Uggah, who is the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, hoped that teachers at the primary school level would make extra efforts to motivate their students to like STEM subjects and go for the science stream in their further education.
Rural students, he said, should not dismiss STEM subjects as something very difficult, as he believed they could excel in these subjects too.
“This is the crucial path to developing their passion and development,” he said.
During the event, Uggah also performed the opening ceremony for its new RM7 million building block, built under the RM1 billion allocations to repair dilapidated schools in the state.
On another matter, Uggah again reiterated the need for students to read a lot.
“When you read a lot, you will enjoy a lot more knowledge and current happenings and developments around the world,” he said.
On this note, he announced a grant of RM10,000 to buy new books for the school’s library, as well as another RM10,000 for its parent-teacher association.
On top of that, he also announced a grant of RM100,000 to upgrade the school’s facilities and teaching aids.
Meanwhile, Betong Member of Parliament Dr Richard Rapu, who spoke earlier, advised rural parents to continue allowing their children to stay as boarders at their schools.
“As boarders, your children will benefit from better time management, be it for studying, meals, or co-curricular activities.
“They will be exposed to better discipline… They will not be distracted from their core business of studying,” he said.
He also announced a grant of RM5,000 to the school PTA.
