Sandakan needs TVET college to boost youth skills, says Zahid

PIC BY NSTP/POLIANA RONNIE SIDOM

SANDAKAN: A Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college offering advanced courses needs to be established here to meet the growing demand for skills-based education.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Sabah currently has only one Mara Skills Institute in Kota Kinabalu, along with 24 GiatMara centres across the state.

“In my view, Sandakan urgently needs such a TVET college.

“This is important because, following the decline of the timber industry here, the area needs redevelopment.

“Based on assessments by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and Mara, we believe this area requires advanced TVET courses to be offered to students,” he said after launching the Desa Sentuhan Kasih programme at Dewan Sibuga Jaya, Batu 8, today.

Also present were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, and Libaran member of parliament Datuk Suhaimi Nasir, who is also the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Sungai Sibuga state seat.

Zahid said the TVET college would ensure Sabah youth receive training and can continue working in the state without having to go to Peninsular Malaysia.

“One in five unemployed Malaysians comes from Sabah, and this problem needs to be addressed.

“Insya-Allah, the establishment of this college will provide jobs with premium salaries, higher than the minimum wage.

“After the Sabah election, we will announce and expedite the allocation for this project to be implemented here,” he said.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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