KUCHING – Education can play an important role in improving employment prospects, raising household incomes and helping families move beyond persistent economic hardship, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datoâ Sri Nancy Shukri said.
She said access to quality education could give students a stronger foundation for pursuing careers and, in turn, contribute to improvements in their families’ socioeconomic circumstances.
Nancy made the remarks while officiating a Motivation and Guidance Programme on Study and Career Opportunities for Form Four and Form Five students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bako on September 26. A calculator donation programme for students was also held as part of the event.
She said students should be given appropriate guidance as they prepare for examinations and consider their options after secondary school.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Alumni Association (MITSA), with the stated aim of helping students better understand possible education and career pathways after completing their secondary education.
According to Nancy, the initiative includes support in core subjects such as Mathematics and English. It also introduces students to admission requirements for higher education institutions at an early stage.
Such information can help students become familiar with the requirements they may need to meet when applying for further education. Understanding entry conditions in advance can also allow students to plan their academic choices according to their intended fields of study.
The programme comes as SMK Bako continues to receive recognition for its academic performance. Nancy said the school had been named the best school in Sarawak for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination in the previous year.
“We are very proud of this achievement and hope that this record of excellence will be continued by the school’s students who will be sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination in the future,” she said.
The recognition for the school’s STPM performance was cited as an achievement that could provide encouragement to students preparing for their own examinations.
The programme also included practical assistance for students preparing for upcoming examinations. MITSA donated calculators for students to use as they prepare for their studies and examinations.
For secondary school students approaching their final examination years, access to academic support and information about further education can form part of preparations for decisions about their next stage of study.
Guidance on admission requirements can also help students understand the academic expectations associated with different higher education options.
Nancy’s remarks placed education within the broader context of family economic mobility, linking academic and skills development with access to employment and income opportunities.
The programme at SMK Bako combines academic guidance with information intended to help students make decisions about further study and future careers.
The event was attended by several education and university representatives, including MITSA president Wan Idris Wan Ibrahim; UiTM Sarawak deputy rector for Research and Industry Linkages Professor Ir Dr Juferi Idris; Kuching District Education Officer Dr Majelan Sulong; and SMK Bako principal Mohd Firdaus Abdullah.
The involvement of the alumni association and university representatives provided students with access to information on further education, while the school’s participation connected the programme with students’ ongoing academic preparation.
As students prepare for their SPM and consider their options after secondary school, the initiative highlights the role of academic preparation, career information and access to suitable learning resources in supporting their next steps.
