Latest news with #FrancisHardenHollis
Borneo Post
23-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Harden: Sarawak focussed on shaping future-ready, employable workforce with industry-relevant curricula
Datuk Francis Harden – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING: The Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development is committed to ensuring Sarawak's tertiary education curricula remains industry-relevant, adaptive, and future-proof, said Deputy Minister Datuk Francis Harden Hollis. He said the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) is playing a crucial role in shaping a skilled, future-ready workforce aligned with the state's economic ambitions under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030. 'This is so graduates are employable and equipped to drive Sarawak's socioeconomic transformation,' he said when responding to Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor (GPS-Lingga), during the question-and-answer session in the State Legislative Assembly here today. Dayang Noorazah had asked how the state government works with industry to align FTES with Sarawak's workforce and economic development needs. In response to a supplementary question on the ministry's programmes or platforms that link Sarawak's education system to industry demands, he cited the annual Sarawak Career and Training Fair (SCaTFair). 'It aims to provide information on education and career opportunities, enhance the employability of graduates and youth, and empower them to make decisions about their future,' he said. He added the ministry works closely with various agencies and stakeholders to ensure graduates are aligned with current job market needs. He said agencies such as Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (Tegas) as well as strategic partnerships with key agencies including Social Security Organisation (Socso), Sarawak Skills, Centre of Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petrona), and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) have been instrumental in supporting these efforts,' he said. According to Harden, Sarawakians, regardless of location, can take part in and benefit from the state's high-tech economic growth. 'Our institutions emphasise hands-on, practical approaches that build both technical and critical thinking skills. 'Especially to the rural communities, with initiatives such as Industry Technology Outreach Programme (ITOP), Community Technology Outreach Programme (CTOP), Village Transformation Programme (VTP), and industry collaboration and mobile training units, they deliver high-value training on renewable energy, digital economy, and agro-industry directly to local areas,' he said. Francis Harden Hollis industry relevant lead
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Education Dept's constant engagement sees Sarawak's primary school dropout rate dip to 4 in 2024
File photo for illustration purposes only. KUCHING (May 22): The Sarawak State Education Department's (JPNS) continuous engagement with pupils and parents has successfully lowered the primary school dropout rate. Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis said active engagement activities have prevented children, particularly from poor families, from leaving school. 'Continuous engagements with the parents and students are being carried out by the JPNS. 'The dropout rate among poor families showed a declining trend from 19 pupils in 2022 to four pupils in 2024,' he said in response to a question from Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap at the State Legislative Assembly here today. Separately, he said a special recruitment exercise under the Contract of Service scheme was carried out in 2024 to address teacher shortages in Sarawak. Harden said the initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Education Service Commission, Ministry of Education, and JPNS. Under the scheme, both education and non-education graduates were hired. He said a dedicated committee is also monitoring teacher vacancies to ensure timely replacements as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the teaching workforce across the state. In addition to tackling teacher shortages, he said the ministry is also prioritising the issue of dilapidated schools. 'Continuous efforts are being made to improve school facilities under the upgrading and rebuilding of dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak,' he said. dropout Francis Harden Hollis lead primary school
