KUCHING: The Education Ministry should consider introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into the school syllabus to provide early exposure to the subject, says Datuk Seri Roland Sagah.
The Sarawak Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said it was important for school children to learn about AI from young to be digitally ready for the future.
He said this was in line with Sarawak’s policy of preparing its workforce to take up opportunities in new sectors like green technology and renewable energy under the state’s post-Covid development strategy (PCDS).
“Students must learn about AI from the beginning, so it’s for the Education Ministry to consider introducing the subject,” he told reporters after opening a programme on AI-driven talent development here on Wednesday (Aug 20).
Sagah also said ethical considerations must be included in any AI subject to prevent its abuse.
“AI must be ethically exercised so that there will be no decadence in society. The more we know about AI, the more we will know how to prevent this,” he said.
In his speech earlier, Sagah said AI-enabled workforce strategies would help Sarawak to achieve the PCDS goals of creating 195,000 new job opportunities in high-skill and high-value sectors, raising the median monthly household income from RM4,544 to RM15,047 by 2030 and increasing the skilled workforce share to 30%.
He said the goals required a workforce that was digitally-ready, innovative and globally competitive.
“When integrated into our workforce planning, AI can identify emerging skill demands faster than traditional systems, personalise training pathways to accelerate competency building and enhance productivity and innovation across every sector.
“By embedding AI in talent strategies, we are equipping Sarawakians not only to fill jobs but to create them,” he said.
