THE AUTHORITIES need to relook the way millions of ringgit are spent on education to deal with the prevailing lack of skilled workers which is out of line with the needs of industries, said Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking, citing a labour force report on the problem.
According to Leiking, the 2022 Labour Force Report revealed glaring education skills gaps in Sabah with only 20.6% of the 1,856,500 employees in the state attaining post-secondary education.
About 45.5% have completed secondary school, 23.4% primary school and a “troubling” 10.5% lack formal education.
"Considering Sabah's status as the poorest state in Malaysia, prioritising investment in upskilling the local workforce is imperative," said Leiking, a former federal minister in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, in Kota Kinabalu recently.
He said the government must relook at its policies to effectively build a competitive labour market in view of the growing investments in the state.
Furthermore, the current shortcomings in the country’s education services will continue to hinder Sabah’s potentials.
Leiking said focus should be placed on establishing more technical, vocational and training institutions to meet with the educational needs of the industries.
There is also a stark contrast in educational attainments between those in urban and rural areas. The problem is compounded as people, particularly in the rural areas, are constantly limited to low-skill job opportunities.
“Given that Sabah is considered the poorest state in Malaysia, investing in upskilling the local force is an essential priority.
“The evolving demands of the labour market, particularly in relation to foreign investments, underscore the urgent need for Sabahans to be well equipped with the skills that enable them to compete effectively and work within multinational corporations.
"The present inadequacies within the education system handicap this potential,” he said.
Sabah has spent a total of RM768 million on scholarships, bursaries and higher education loans between 1967 and 2021 via the Yayasan Sabah Group.
The amount has benefitted 43,665 students who are pursuing various disciplines in local and international institutions.
In 2022, the Sabah government also launched the State Education Fund (TPNS) with a sum of RM54.5 million to develop Sabah’s education agenda and assist students from poor families to pursue higher education.
According to the National Human Resource Centre, Sabah faces a labour deficit due to the migration of its youths to other states in search of better job opportunities and the situation has had an impact on the state’s economy and growth. – The Vibes, March 22, 2024
