NIBONG TEBAL, Education-based programmes such as YES! Rock the School can raise students' awareness of successful career pathways for the future, said Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak. He said that learning today must go beyond the classroom and strengthen the relationship between industry and academia to create high-value jobs and build an ecosystem where talent can thrive. "To the dedicated teachers, strengthen your resolve to educate and guide future leaders, as connections with the industry are key to bringing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects to life in your classrooms," he said when launching the YES! Rock The School Mega Edition Penang 2024 here today. He added that Penang is experiencing rapid development, particularly in the semiconductor sector, and the state has a vision to become a hub for innovation and technology, as outlined in the Penang STEM Talent Blueprint. Meanwhile, Human Resource Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, who also present a t the event said that the organisation of this programme reflects his ministry's commitment to developing the future workforce by engaging schools in the cultivation of industry-ready talent. Sim said that in the second quarter of 2024, the underemployment rate was at 37 per cent compared to 32.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2019, as talent equipped with STEM, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills, or university education were not placed appropriately in the industry. "Many of them lack specific information and skills to aid their transition from education to employment, such as soft skills," he said. Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), a strategic agency and think tank under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), is actively implementing the YES! Rock the School initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Following its success in Kedah, Pahang, and Johor, the programme is now being expanded to Penang through a collaboration with the Penang governm ent and Universiti Sains Malaysia, aiming to provide industrial exposure and ignite interest among primary and secondary school students in STEM-related careers, while equipping them with current industry knowledge. The YES! Rock the School Mega Edition Penang 2024 is a two-day programme involving over 550 students and 150 teachers and counsellors from 34 schools in the state. Source: BERNAMA News Agency