Taib (second left) presents a certificate to a graduate while Jamil (left) and Othman look on.

KUCHING: Young people are encouraged to take up technical skills education programmes to fulfill the future needs of industries.

Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said parents and teachers had  to play their roles in raising awareness on the importance of skills education.

This, he said, would allow Sarawak to move in tandem with other developed countries.

However, Taib said this statement would be more apparent by the year 2020 through the hard work of developing institutions of higher learning.

“I believe the acceptance of current graduates is encouraging, so I believe it will be better in the future.

“This is due to the education they received is suitable with the development of our state and country,” he said at the 15th Convocation of Institut Kemahiran Islam Malaysia Sarawak (Ikmas) at Sarawak Islamic Complex here yesterday.

Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Tan Sri Datuk Othman Mustapha were among those present.

Taib added that Sarawak needed a development plan that could fulfill the future demands of industries.

He also said adaptation of skills was also important and not only focused on technical aspects.

“This is important because we have an economy that will provide more employment opportunities in the field of technical and skills,” he said.

As such, Taib said the effort to increase the number of graduates was part of measures to enrich and allow all races in Sarawak to have equal opportunities.

“This include the knowledge in Islam and we must have the manpower to meet the needs of current industries,” he said.

“Greater efforts are needed to continue and introduce skills programmes to young people,” he added.

The convocation meanwhile saw 96 graduates receiving their Diploma in Islamic Studies.