新加坡人力部：提供獎學金、助學金和企業資助，讓年輕人從中受益
2024年3月6日，新加坡國防部兼人力部高級政務部長扎吉哈，回答議員有關如何協助年輕人學習以及就業的議題。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
扎吉哈先生：主席，我想回答安迪先生剛才提出的第二個問題。多年來，我們很幸運地得到了企業的支持，因為社會發展理事會（Mendaki）一直專注於教育工作。尤其是獎學金和助學金，因為這是我們工作中最重要的一部分。我們曾與新加坡航空公司、新加坡政府投資公司、美光科技 、MiRXES等企業合作。
但這不僅僅是關於獎學金和助學金。如果你看看我在發言中提到的貢獻，例如美光科技為許多年輕學生提供了實習機會，這些學生以前可能從未接觸過半導體，也不會考慮在這一領域從事職業。這是很好的例子。
穆罕默德沙拉塔哈先生也分享過一些年輕人去了勞斯萊斯等地參觀，讓他們了解增長中的行業，一些人還去了最近的航空展，了解了一些國防科技。
所以，我們正在利用各種平台和機會與許多來自低收入家庭的年輕人進行交流。這些年輕人可能從未有過這樣的機會，現在卻得到了實習機會和指導。
正如我分享的，默克藥廠等公司通過他們的數據科學家、人工智慧專家、網絡安全專家為年輕人提供了機會，並讓他們與專業人士接觸，這些專業人士可能通過常規渠道從未見過。
我認為這是建立社會資本的一種方式。是的，我們已經與一些企業合作，但我不會低估這種影響和效果。我們希望能有更多的企業加入，特別是通過專業網絡。正如我所提到的，我們去年開始了這個項目。現在我們已經有大約450名專業人士參與，其中許多被部署為導師。拉哈尤瑪贊女士也分享過她的網絡中有大約1,000人，我們希望這能幫助在馬來/穆斯林社區中建立社會資本。
我們鼓勵更多的人以小的方式回饋社會。這不一定是大企業。我們也有商人。有些印度-穆斯林社區的成員也出來設立基金，因為一些印度-穆斯林人不符合TTFS的資格。但也有一些自發的努力，因為他們想為社區做些事情，包括那些符合某些計劃資格的人。
所以，我們提供了各種各樣的機會，但我認為這不僅僅是關於獎學金和助學金，還包括提供機會、社會資本和指導。我認為這會帶來變化。
主席：沙禮爾先生。
沙禮爾先生：我想感謝部長、高級部長助理和高級國會議員拉哈尤瑪贊女士對問題的澄清。接下來我想用馬來語問一些澄清問題。
（用馬來語）感謝人力部兼國防部高級政務部長扎吉哈先生分享MTS（馬來語教育補習課程）已擴大範圍，包括附加數學和生物科目。
我想建議高級部長助理鼓勵中學三年級和四年級的學生參加學習之旅等活動，這樣他們可以了解在增長行業中所需的工作和技能。
我的第二個問題是：我們能否提供專門的課程，鼓勵學習人工智慧和網絡安全等領域的技能，這樣我們的學生和工人才能在增長行業中獲得最佳的工作機會？
扎吉哈先生：（用馬來語）感謝沙禮爾先生提出好的問題。如果我們看我們的MTS課程，我們會發現課程相當緊湊，我們的孩子每周在MTS中心學習三到四小時。在這些課程中，他們今天需要學習兩門課程。有些人還會在面授課後參加虛擬課程。所以，我們也需要優先考慮他們的學校和補習課程。
然而，我也承認我們想讓他們參加的項目之一是，我剛才對安迪先生提到的，我們也希望他們有機會進行實習、參加學習之旅，有時在「知識月」期間，例如，通過FA3（教育、就業與參與發展中心）讓他們有機會參加戶外的學習之旅。
我們希望年輕人也能獲得指導的機會。在這裡，他們可以在#amPowered項目以及拉哈尤瑪贊女士在FA3的指導計劃下，與專業人士分享經驗。
我們旨在為更多的MTS年輕人提供這些機會，並將這一網絡擴展到其他M3（新加坡伊斯蘭宗教委員會（MUIS）、回教社會發展理事會（MENDAKI）和人民協會活動執行委員會（MESRA））的年輕人。我們希望利用我們在M3的所有資源，以便更多年輕人能夠從這些項目中受益。
我希望沙禮爾先生會繼續給予支持，這對其他議員來說也一樣，這樣我們才能為學生提供更好的機會。
以下是英文質詢內容：
Mr Zaqy Mohamad: Chairman, I will take the second question Member Saktiandi asked earlier. We are quite fortunate that we had corporates who have come forward to support us over the years, given MENDAKI’s focus, especially on education. Particularly starting with scholarships and bursaries because that is, I think; while I would say lowest hanging fruit, but I think it is quite core to much of the work that we do. So, we have had SIA over the years; we have had GIC; Micron; MiRXES and others, who have come forward and given us.
But it is really about also the community coming forward because it is not just about scholarships and bursaries, but if you look at the contribution that I have shared in my speech, such as Micron providing opportunities, or internship opportunities, for many of our young students who have perhaps never seen the insides of a semiconductor and would never have considered careers in that space. These are good examples.
Sharael has shared how some of the youths were taken to Rolls Royce and others, so that they can look into growth industries and some also visited the Airshow recently to have a look at some of the defence technologies that are available.
So, we are using various platforms and opportunities to open minds, open conversations with many of our youths who may come from low-income families especially, who may not have had the exposures, but now given the chance to be exposed, to have internship opportunities, to be mentored.
As I shared, MSD Pharma, for example, with their data scientists, AI specialists, cyber security specialists to give them opportunities and mix around with professionals who they may never have met through regular channels.
I think this is one way in which we want to build social capital. So yes, we have started with certain corporates but I would not underestimate the impact and effect. We hope that more will come forward, especially through the professional network. We started this last year, as I shared. We have about 450 professionals already onboard, many deployed to mentor. Rahayu has shared about 1,000 on her network too, with our youths. We hope that this brings about building up social capital within the Malay/Muslim community.
We want to encourage more to contribute back in small ways. It does not have to be big corporates. We have businessmen too. We have members from the Indian-Muslim community as well, who came forward to set up funds because some Indian-Muslims did not qualify for TTFS, for example. But there are efforts on the ground that came ground-up because they want to do something for the community, including those who have qualified for certain schemes.
So, we are providing a wide range of opportunities but I think it is more than just scholarships and bursaries; but providing opportunities, providing social capital, providing mentorship. I think that will make a difference.
The Chairman: Mr Sharael Taha.
Mr Sharael Taha: I would like to thank the Minister and Senior Minister of State and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu for the clarifications. Just some clarifications in Malay, Mr Chairman.
(In Malay): My thanks to Senior Minister of State Zaqy for sharing that the MTS has been expanded further to include subjects, like Additional Maths, as well as Biology.
May I suggest to the Senior Minister of State that we encourage Secondary Three and Four students to participate in programmes, like Learning Journeys, so that they can be acquainted with the kind of jobs and skills that are required in the growth industries?
