By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 26: Kuching Vocational College (KVC) at Batu Lintang here is the only vocational institution in Sarawak without a ‘surau’ (prayer room) and hostel facility.
KVC director Arni Suhaili revealed that the college is currently striving to get a ‘surau’ constructed on its premises but the plan has been delayed and hindered due to an undefined land boundary.
“The college is in the process of identifying the demarcation of the college’s land,” she told those attending the college’s Excellence Award Ceremony which was officiated at by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan today.
She disclosed that the college has requested the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS) to contact the Land and Survey Department to do a delineation and demarcation survey in order to enable the college to build the much needed surau.
“However, our college is still awaiting the approval from JPNS. We hope that the Deputy Chief Minister (Awang Tengah) can visit the ‘surau’ site and help us expedite the land boundary identification process,” she said.
Arni added that as a college without a hostel facility, all the allocations for students including lecturers and educators to carry out activities inside and outside college premises were fully funded by the college’s Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG).
“The KVC PIBG is also funding a major portion of the facilities in the college such as air conditioner units in Dewan Mutiara Gemilang.
“Moreover, this is the first time for the college to hold its Excellence Award Ceremony in an air-conditioned hall,” she disclosed.
Arni thus humbly appealed to the state government to assist in providing allocations to support the students and teachers who are constrained in terms of facilities, amenities and equipment needed for teaching and learning.
“The contributions from the Minister will be fully utilised for the education of children in this college,” she assured.
Earlier, Arni revealed that the marketability of vocational graduates for 2018 hit 97.02 per cent with most graduates already employed in their respective fields especially during industrial training or internships.
“The number of vocational graduates holding diplomas has increased year after year. Based on a projection made, graduates from vocational colleges and institutes in Sarawak alone will reach 6,246 graduates with Malaysia Vocational Diploma by 2021.
“These graduates are expected to fulfill the skill labour (demand) especially to realise the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score),” she explained.
She also revealed that strategic collaboration between KVC and various industries have been enhanced with currently, five companies having inked Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the college while seven more companies are expected to come on board soon.
“These partnerships show the recognition and positive impact of the college to ensure our academic agenda is on par with other higher education providers in Malaysia.
“Vocational college is the best choice for those not academically inclined to obtain knowledge in various fields of skills and to prepare themselves for the workforce,” she added.
Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais was among those present. — DayakDaily
