Students should utilise opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills: Mary Yap

Students in Sabah are urged to be smart and to seize whatever opportunity they have to further their study and partake in skills training provided by the government.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching said the young people utilise various opportunities and platforms provided by the government, including those under the Ministry of Higher Education, for them to explore and acquire knowledge.

"Grab the opportunity available to obtain information on existing institutions and skills training offered to add value to yourself," she said.

Yap, who is also Member of Parliament for Tawau, was speaking at the launch of the Sabah UPU ''Jom Masuk IPT'' Roadshow 2017, here, today.

Yap said the UPU roadshow programme could act as a platform for students to get information, as well as to provide opportunities for higher education institutions to disseminate relevant information on courses they provided.

"It''s a loss, especially for people of Tawau if they don''t get this useful information, especially the school leavers, both the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) holders, intending to further their studies," she said.

She said at the roadshow, public could get information on education funding agencies such as the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), which is also participating in the programme today.

"This programme not only focuses on urban areas, but will be extended to the rural areas so that no student will be left out in getting information on education opportunities."

Meanwhile, when asked on the proposed establishment of an English medium school in Sabah, she said the matter required further study with the stakeholders.

"It is a proposal that we can think of, but we have to see whether we are ready to implement it, our teachers, the curriculum, that need to be taken into account, and if it is going to be implemented, it will require time to be realised," she said. - BERNAMA