By DayakDaily Team
SARIKEI, Sept 20: Tanjong Manis MP Dato Ir Yusuf Abd Wahab revealed that Sarawak faces a deficit of over 20,000 engineers for its development and industrial expansion, leading contractors to source talent from outside the State.
According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Yusuf said the demand for engineering professionals presented opportunities for Sarawakian youths to pursue the field and fill workforce requirements in the State’s development projects.
He said expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) was particularly needed to support large-scale projects, including transport networks, bridges, water supply systems and energy infrastructure.
“Many engineers appointed and selected by contractors come from outside Sarawak. However, Sarawakian youths also have the capability to fill these opportunities,” he said during the Mansang Anak Sarawak Programme at SMK Sarikei Baru here on Saturday (Sept 19).
Yusuf said exposure to STEM should begin at school level to help students identify their interests, potential and suitable fields at an early stage.
He said students should use their Form One to Form Three years to explore different fields before deciding on their education pathways at the next level.
“Career pathways in STEM do not depend solely on university education, as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) provides opportunities to develop technical expertise and skills-based careers,” he added.
He urged parents to give their children space to identify their own strengths and interests, including in STEM and technical fields.
He said early exposure and continued support from families and educational institutions were important to develop a future generation capable of meeting Sarawak’s professional and technical workforce needs. — DayakDaily
