(From fourth left) Harden, Sagah and Dr Annuar join other guests in a stage photo call.
SIBU (April 22): The Sarawak government is intensifying efforts to align education pathways with industry needs, with a clear directive for tangible outcomes from career guidance initiatives.
Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn stressed that the Career Placement System (Speak): Talent Bridge 2030 programme must go beyond information-sharing to securing real opportunities for students.
“Our students need pathways, not just possibilities,” he said when closing the programme at a leading hotel here on Tuesday, urging institutions and industry players to provide actual placement opportunities and be transparent about their intake quotas.
Addressing concerns over ensuring industry participation translates into real hiring, Sagah said initiatives such as career fairs and roadshows already incorporate on-the-spot interviews, with some students securing jobs immediately.
“That’s when interviews are conducted on the spot, and students are informed whether they are successful.
“We already have several who have secured jobs through these programmes,” Sagah said.
He added that the state will continue expanding such engagement platforms to ensure meaningful participation from industry players, while emphasising that employability also depends on students acquiring relevant skills.
“To get good pay, you must have good skills―not just academic, but practical skills,” he said.
Sagah emphasised that career planning is critical to Sarawak’s economic future, particularly in addressing workforce gaps identified under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
He noted that different regions in central Sarawak face specific talent shortages, including marine engineering and welding in Sibu, technical and digital skills in Mukah, agrotechnology expertise in Sarikei, and infrastructure-related talent in Kapit.
To address this, Sagah called on school counsellors to take a proactive role by securing placements for students during such programmes.
“I want you to book and lock seats for your students.
“Do not leave this venue without knowing exactly how many seats you have secured,” he said.
Sagah also urged ministries, agencies and industry partners to ensure their participation translates into concrete outcomes, stressing that every placement offered contributes directly to building Sarawak’s future workforce.
At the same time, Sagah reminded counsellors to remain vigilant against misleading or unauthorised education offers, stressing their responsibility in safeguarding students from pursuing unrecognised qualifications.
He also called on the media to play a significant role in disseminating information on workforce demands and available education pathways to ensure greater public awareness.
Sagah then officially concluded the Sibu leg of the Speak Sarawak 2026 programme, expressing hope that the momentum would continue in the next venue.
Among those present were Deputy Minister of Education (Higher Education and Innovation) Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, Deputy Minister of Education II (Talent Development) Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Sarawak, Anielia Siam, Senior Deputy Director of the State Education Department Kwang Law, and Head of Industrial Capability of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad, Azid Allan.
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