SANDAKAN – The Higher Education Ministry is looking into increasing the number of courses related to tourism, oil and gas, as well as technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses in Sabah.
Its deputy minister, Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, said that even though the decision to add the number of courses is decided by higher learning institutions such as Polytechnic College, he believes there are demands for courses relating to the tourism and oil and gas sectors in the state.
“They (polytechnics) have to assess local and industry demand, and then propose it to the ministry.
“However, considering that the tourism industry in Sabah is growing, we have started conducting studies to offer courses related to tourism, oil and gas, and (expanding) TVET institutions in Sabah,” he said when met reporters after visiting a business premise owned by a Sandakan Polytechnic alumnus in Bandar Prima Mile 4, during the Jejak TVET Madani programme, here today.
Earlier today, he visited Sandakan Polytechnic and Sandakan Community College in the Sandakan Education Hub, Mile 12.
Mustapha said he was happy to learn that both Sandakan Polytechnic and Sandakan Community College have produced graduates with 100% employability, with all of them having either started working, started a business, or pursued further studies.
He added that the demand for courses offered at Sandakan Community College under the Lifelong Learning programme has exceeded its target. The college aimed for 400 students but received 1,500 instead.
Mustapha said the programme is not only for the youth but also for women and disabled persons, and is offered at a very low price. For instance, a two-day training session to learn how to make roti canai costs only RM10.
“As such, I call upon the youth and mothers in the Sandakan area to register themselves at the Sandakan Community College. It requires a minimum fee but will have a huge impact on the community,” he said.
At the same time, Mustapha said he was intrigued by the innovations made by students and lecturers at the Sandakan Polytechnic, saying that it could potentially contribute to food security in Sabah.
He said Sandakan Polytechnic, which is currently offering aquaculture and agrotechnology courses, has come up with an innovation – chicken feed pellets, which could potentially reduce the cost of chicken feed for poultry farmers in Sabah.
The Jejak TVET Madani programme in Sandakan saw Mustapha visiting a florist shop in Bandar Prima Mile 4, owned by a graduate of Sandakan Polytechnic, Jacqueline Wong Shuk Yi, who is now earning about RM15,000 per month.
“This is what we want to highlight; other than high employability, they (Polytechnic graduates) were also trained to become entrepreneurs. We want to share their success stories with the younger generation,” he said. – March 2, 2024