BRUNEI-MUARA

SEVENTY-FOUR per cent of the Youth Development Centre’s (YDC) graduates have secured jobs or started their own enterprises or pursued further studies, the minister of culture, youth and sports said.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah said: “From 2010 to 2015, 1,067 youth have completed courses at YDC, including 318 who received monthly welfare assistance from the government, were recipients of Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) Asnaf Zakat as well as former residents at Al-Islah Rehabilitation Centre.”

The minister was speaking during a certificate presentation ceremony for the graduates of the centre’s scaffolding course yesterday.

He said all 105 youth who completed their scaffolding course have also found jobs.

The number includes 52 youth from the fourth intake, who already signed their working contract with construction firm Syarikat SHIKA Sdn Bhd yesterday, following in the footsteps of their seniors who took up jobs in the private sector.

He said the scaffolding course, which was introduced in 2013, was identified to have had a high demand in the market.

“Scaffolding is not only in demand in the oil and gas sector but is also needed in the construction sector.

“YDC has received requests from a number of companies in the sultanate who are interested to hire the centre’s graduates,” he added.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Hazair said this is a win-win for both the centre and the government as the YDC serves to support the government’s efforts to provide employment opportunities for the youth by developing their skills.

Haswandi Hj Osman, acting assistant director of YDC, said the fourth scaffolding course was a joint effort by the centre and Blue Oceanic Management Services as the course consultant, as well as Syarikat SHIKA as the company that recruited the graduates.

“The course began in January until May 2015, including two months of theory and practical training course taught by professionals from Blue Oceanic Management Services, who also brought in lecturers from Akademi Binaan Malaysia,” he said.

The course participants were also required to do work attachments at Syarikat SHIKA for three months.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Hazair handed over the certificates to 17 participants of the fourth intake as the remaining 35 graduates were on offshore duty.

Also present were Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman and other officials.

The Brunei Times