MIRI: Sarawak Skills Miri, in partnership with the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), has taken Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to the heart of the Lawas community through a two-day skills empowerment programme.
Held on August 8 and 9 at Dewan Penghulu Lakai Balang, Long Tuma, the Community Empowerment through Skills Enhancement in TVET initiative marked the third large-scale outreach effort under Sarawak Skills Miri’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
It involved 18 staff from the Sarawak Skills Miri Branch, the Sarawak Agriculture Vocational Training Institute (SAVTI), and MEITD.
The aim, said campus director Ts Syuhaira Mohd Zin, was not only to introduce TVET to students, parents and residents in Long Tuma and nearby villages, but also to give them practical, hands-on skills that could be used in their daily lives.
“This programme is very meaningful to us because it allows us to directly engage with the community and create awareness about TVET,” she added.
“We hope these opportunities will act as stepping stones for participants to gain more knowledge and experience, and to realise their full potential.”
Eighty-one participants joined the programme, which featured short courses in Basic Electrical Wiring, Hydroponic Farming, Basic Palm Oil Planting and Fertilisation, and Basic Arduino programming for SMK Lawas students.
Each course drew around 20 participants.
The event also saw MEITD present 150W solar lamps to 21 villages in the Lawas Damit area.
The lamps were handed over by Sharifah Zahidah Wan Hassan, assistant secretary of the ministry’s Talent Development Division, as a gesture of appreciation for the community’s support.
Penghulu Davis Parag Udan was present during the handover.
According to Syuhaira, the response from participants was overwhelmingly positive. She said the programme not only built skills but also strengthened links between Sarawak Skills and various stakeholders, including government departments, community leaders, and NGOs.
Rural communities often have limited access to technical training.
By bringing TVET programmes directly to villages, Sarawak Skills Miri hopes to expand opportunities for residents to develop vocational skills in a structured and safe manner, while deepening its engagement with local communities.
