BRUNEI-MUARA

THE Youth Development Centre (YDC) will introduce two new courses in Cable Jointing and Fibre To The Home.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah said the courses will start in August 2015.

During yesterday’s certificate presentation ceremony for the fourth scaffolding course intake, he said the centre will also expand its baking course to the branch in Belait, which currently offers computing courses.

He said the new courses mark the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ (MCYS) initiative towards introducing skills courses that help youths secure employment.

The minister also announced that the scaffolding course that ended yesterday will resume again with its fifth intake in August.

“Seeing the interest shared by a number of youths, YDC will organise the course for the fifth time through a public-private partnership approach, where as many as 42 youths will be trained and taught scaffolding.

“For the upcoming course intake, I have been informed that a company that conducts scaffolding is prepared to take in and offer employment to the 42 youths that attended the course after they complete their course at the end of December,” the minister continued.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Hazair commended the support and commitment of the companies that assured employment opportunities for youths who took certain courses at the centre.

It is clear that the course can produce a quality and relevant scaffolding workforce that meets the expectations of employers, he added.

He went on to say that the centre will continue collaborating with the private sector to identify careers that have a high demand in the market.

“What is most important here is that the course instructors must show a strong commitment and good working discipline (when teaching), so the youths can withstand the job’s demands especially in view of the challenging nature of the job,” the minister said.

The Brunei Times