Sarawak Aims to Train 500,000 Skilled Workers by 2030 Roland Sagah: 30,000 New Talents Needed Annually

(Kuching, 25th) Sarawak is committed to cultivating the workforce of the future, with the goal of having 500,000 skilled workers by 2030.

Sarawak’s Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah, stated that with the rapid development in energy, the digital economy, construction, and manufacturing, human capital development has become Sarawak’s top priority.

“To achieve this goal, we need to train at least 30,000 skilled workers each year. Therefore, education and talent development are crucial.”

He made these remarks this morning as he officiated the 2025 Australia Northern Territory Education Forum.

Also in attendance at the forum were Robin Cahill, Australia Northern Territory Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, as well as delegates from the Northern Territory Research Project.

Roland Sagah pointed out that one of the key initiatives is the Sarawak Dual Language Plan (Sarawak DLP) launched in 2020, making Sarawak the only state in Malaysia to comprehensively use English as the medium of instruction for science and mathematics in all public schools.

To assess the effectiveness of this policy, the Sarawak government will launch a new standard assessment called the “UP-DLP Sarawak” (Sarawak Higher Education Assessment), to be implemented for the first time this October, targeting sixth and ninth-grade students.

Meanwhile, Roland Sagah also emphasized the importance of strategic and structural international cooperation and said that Sarawak’s developmental needs and planning will be taken into account.

“We are willing to collaborate with the Northern Territory of Australia in areas such as student and lecturer exchanges, joint research, teacher professional development, as well as skills and vocational training (TVET).”

He noted that Sarawak hopes to learn from the Northern Territory’s unique educational models and experiences in multicultural education, indigenous community engagement, and vocational training in remote areas.

He added that following successful cooperation in fields such as crocodile management and ecotourism, today's forum marks a new chapter in the bilateral relationship between Sarawak and the Northern Territory of Australia.