KUCHING: Plans to build technical schools in Mukah, Kapit, Baram and Betong are on the drawing board in an effort to get more rural children to pursue technical education.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who announced this, said he would like to see universities and institutes of higher learning help hasten the pace of creating technically-skilled workers by offering technical courses to meet Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE)’s demand.

Speaking at Mara Institute of Technology Sarawak Alumni (Mitsa) dinner here on Friday, Taib said SCORE and technical education would ensure that the socio-economy of the people, including those from the Bumiputera community, would become a high income one by 2030, when the state achieved developed status.

On UiTM, he commended the university for its pioneering role in offering courses such as Halal Management and Aquaculture as it would help the growth of SCORE, which is targeted to attract RM200 billion in investments by 2030.

“This shows UiTM’s ability to evolve and to cater to the state’s industrial and economic needs, and become the premier platform for Sarawakians to pursue tertiary education,” said Taib, who is also Mitsa patron.

Taib also noted UiTM’s student growth over the past 40 years, from 94 students in 1973 to nearly 9,000 students today.

UiTM expects to house more than 12,000 students with the addition of Kampus Samarahan 2, which is scheduled to start operating next month, and UiTM Mukah campus in 2015.

A highlight of the dinner, which was also held in conjunction with UiTM’s 40th anniversary, was the handing over of a RM10,000 contribution by Mitsa to Tabung Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa UiTM Sarawak.

Also present were Taib’s wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri, Assistant Minister of Land Development Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and UiTM Sarawak Rector Datuk Jamil Hamali.