KUCHING, June 27: Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) has adopted 33 secondary schools from Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions to enhance the teaching and learning environment in these schools.
Under this School Adoption Programme, PPKS would also work closely with the various schools and parent-teacher associations (PTAs) to organise activities for teachers and students, such as leadership skills camps, and teaching and learning, motivational and ICT-related workshops.
Meanwhile, its chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain, said PPKS would be taking up the challenge of possibly adapting the dual system used in several foreign countries to develop the local workforce to meet industry needs in the state.
Earlier, State Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong said his ministry was exploring the dual system used in Germany, where students spend three days in the industry and two days in their college or university every week.
Through the dual system and upon completion of their studies, these graduates would have industry-relevant skills, and this would facilitate their transition to the workplace.
On the increasing importance of Industry 4.0 and the digital economy, Abdul Aziz said PPKS intended to commit resources from its talent pool and shared their best practices in industrial training.
“As a Centre of Excellence in Technology (CoET), we conduct the National Empowerment in Certification and Training for Next Generation Workers (NECT-Gen-Industry 4.0) programme for Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) levy-contributing companies. The following tracks offered are Big Data, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Internet of Things and Vertical Integration,” Abdul Aziz said at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PPKS and the 33 secondary schools.
In the coming months and based on feedback from the various industries in the state, PPKS would be setting up a dedicated Industry 4.0 Lab and Metallurgy and Materials Science Training Centre to develop a future-ready workforce.
Abdul Aziz also emphasised the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
In Sarawak and Malaysia in general, TVET has gained increasing importance as the government, industry and TVET training providers strive to develop the workforce to support numerous development activities.
“The current discourse has often been centred on the development of a competent workforce, in particular, facilitating students’ seamless transition from classroom to the working world.
“In this respect, PPKS is committed to work closely with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research to transform TVET in Sarawak,” he assured. — DayakDaily
