STEM & English Language Mastery: Drivers Of Sarawak’s Human Capital Development
TARAT: Mastery in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as well as the English language must remain a top priority for Sarawakians to ensure the state possesses a high-quality workforce capable of meeting the demands of expanding global industries.
Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said Sarawakians need to enhance their English proficiency to compete in the global job market and secure employment opportunities arising from increased foreign investment in the state.
He noted that English has become the primary medium for knowledge, technology, and science, especially as Sarawak continues to attract international investors from countries including Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Singapore.
Dato Sri Roland Sagah also encouraged parents and grandparents to practice basic English at home, as consistent use helps the younger generation master the language more effectively.
“It is fine to use ‘broken English’, what matters is that the children gain the confidence to speak and familiarise themselves with the language,” he said during the “Mad Kasah” Dinner organised by the Kampung Pesang Women’s Bureau at the Tapah Multipurpose Hall, Siburan on Saturday.
Concurrently, the Tarat Assemblyman urged the community to give serious attention to STEM fields to produce the skilled workforce required for Sarawak's future industries.
He highlighted that the Sarawak Government is currently providing free higher education across 64 courses at state-owned universities, including Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak, and ICATS University College.
According to him, ICATS University College now offers aerospace engineering courses, including nano-satellite development, which will support Sarawak's efforts to strengthen internet connectivity, disaster monitoring, and state resource management.
Furthermore, he remarked that Sarawak requires more doctors, veterinarians, accountants, financial experts, engineers, and scientists to meet the needs of the state's rapid development.
In other developments, he mentioned that the establishment of the AirBorneo airline is expected to create more job opportunities for Sarawakians, though he emphasised that English proficiency is vital, particularly for cabin crew and technical staff.
He also urged the younger generation to take advantage of technical and vocational education (TVET), as these fields offer vast employment prospects and competitive salaries. -UKASnews
