KUCHING: Sarawak has recognised the skills of 105 people who learned outside the classroom, with the launch of its Informal Education (IFE)-Community Skills and Productivity initiative today.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the certificate recipients had completed the skills recognition process, which reflects the state’s aspiration under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) to build a skilled, productive, inclusive and competitive workforce.
“This initiative is more than just a certificate. It is about recognising the skills, experience and potential of our people and giving value to what they have learned and achieved,” he said at the launching ceremony.
Sagah said many people gained valuable skills through work, entrepreneurship, community involvement and life experience.
He also thanked the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) for its technical support, particularly its expertise in competency assessment and skills recognition.
A key outcome of the collaboration, he said, was the partnership between CENTEXS and Rumah Seri Kenangan Kuching, which enables 17 IFE participants in elderly caregiving to continue their studies through hybrid learning with CENTEXS Dalat, Rumah Seri Kenangan Kuching and MissiCare Elderly Care Centre.
He said the programme, the first recognition under the Sarawak IFE, has been allocated RM473,761 through the state government, particularly Yayasan Sarawak and CENTEXS.
Sagah added that students from the Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI) at SMK Pusa were also assessed in basic food preparation and basic women’s clothing making.
He hoped the initiative would be extended to more sectors, communities and groups across Sarawak, saying the state wants to create an ecosystem where community skills are recognised and further developed.
