BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

MORE than 90 per cent of the graduates of the heavy machinery course of the Youth Development Centre (YDC) have been hired by the private sector.

Acting Assistant Director of YDC Haswandi Hj Osman highlighted this yesterday during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with private employers involving students’ work placement.

He noted that since the job placement programme on short courses for heavy machinery drivers started in 2013, a total of 45 students have graduated.

“More than 90 per cent of the graduates are now working with companies related to their course,” he said.

For this year, Haswandi said that five more slots were added for a total of 20 students for the course.

During the ceremony, the students signed a work placement agreement with the nine private companies taking part in the programme.

“Support from private companies is vital in ensuring the success of this work placement programme,” Haswandi said.

The event saw the attendance of personnel from heavy machinery companies. Megamas Training Sdn Bhd conducted the training for the students.

Md Roshawadin Kamaluddin, transport manager of Megamas Training Company, told The Brunei Times that this is the third time they conducted the training for the students.

Teaching the first intake was quite a challenge for us but we have modified our strategies to make learning easier for the next batches, he said.

Roshawadin cited that the course is important to reduce the number of foreigners working in local companies.

“By hiring the students from here, we can reduce the number of foreign workers and also give the locals a chance to work, “he added.

He expressed hopes that the students selected for job placement would take the opportunity and become dedicated workers.

One of the student-beneficiaries, Ak Md Khairuddin Pg Hj Osman, noted that he’s looking forward to work in the company.

“I decided to do this (take the course) for my future. I’m doing something that I have the passion for,” he said.

The five-month course started last January 14 and will end on June 30.

The Brunei Times