Graduates call for job generation, versatile education system

Khai Zem Mat Sani
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

MORE employment opportunities and a more versatile education system to make them adaptable and competitive in the job market are what the Bruneian graduates aspire for as they continue to enjoy the country’s independence and witness its march towards further development.

Speaking to The Brunei Times on the eve of the 31st National Day, most of those interviewed agreed that employment generation is one the issues which authorities should seriously consider.

Roseraghadah Mohammad, 23, said that Brunei should create more job opportunities to meet the demands in the future.

The Universiti of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) graduate from Kg Rimba said, “Unemployment is one of the issues that we heard a lot nowadays, job fairs were held often but still, it is an issue that we cannot avoid from time to time. More students graduates, more students stop from studying, but jobs are hard to get.”

The UBD sociology graduate is still looking for a job, a year after completing her studies.

Meanwhile, Wardi Wasil from Kg Tanjung Bunut suggested that in order to overcome the unemployment problem, Brunei should develop more industries.

Wasil is a UBD graduate of English Literature but now working for a law firm.

He said, “We should have more industries that can make Brunei not rely on oil and gas. More industries equal more employment opportunities, economic diversity and also becoming a self-reliant nation.”

The Department of Economic Planning and Development reported in a September 2014 report that there was a decline in unemployment rate in the country.

The number of unemployed locals (Brunei citizens and Permanent Residents) aged 18–59 years old decreased to 11,469 from 11,546 last May 2014 which is 0.7 per cent.

Aside from what they perceived as lack of job opportunities, the youth is also calling for a nire versatile and flexible education system in the Sultanate which will render the graduates more skilled and more competent.

Some youth find it hard to find a job as they fail to meet the company’s requirements.

A graduate student of Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering (MKJB), Sainul Hj Kipli said that in terms of education students should be more versatile in order to have wider skills.

He said, “Most of the time we are only focusing on theory. We need to focus on practical use to really understand how theory really works.”

“It’s good to know that the Ministry of Education or The Energy Department at Prime Minister’s Office (EDPMO) is now giving chances to young people in Brunei to learn more about the skills through entering the technical schools such as MKJB, MTSSR, and Polytechnic and so on. However, most graduates still only have certain skills.”

“As tomorrow will be our 31st National Day, we are talking about “Generasi Berwawasan” This is a good start and a good platform, for all youth in Brunei. We are now focusing on the Wawasan 2035.”

He added, “By the end of the day, we cannot rely on other countries to make things for us. For example, if it is possible, we can have our own car production line, made in Brunei. This can be make profits for the country, instead of just relying on our oil and gas production. We don’t know how much time we have relying on that production.”


Sumber - The Brunei Times