Young people are the nation's assets and are undeniably essential for society's development and progress. The tabled National Budget 2023 shows that the government has suggested several initiatives to support youth development by addressing unemployment, education, and skills development. For instance, the government has allocated RM30 million for the Capital Market Graduate Program to increase the marketability of graduates in the capital market. However, I question whether these initiatives can genuinely solve the problems or scratch the surface.
Investment in Youth Education
Syed Saddiq, MP for Muar and President of MUDA, commented recently that Malaysia had outspent Singapore in education. However, while Singapore's education system is often considered one of the best in the world, with high-quality teachers, well-equipped schools, and a rigorous curriculum, Malaysia still needs help regarding quality and access to education even though the government has made strides in improving our education system, particularly at the primary and secondary levels.
As youths, we desperately need support in various areas, including equal access to quality education, better school infrastructure, and availability of internet access. The allocated funds for upgrading buildings and infrastructure in 380 dilapidated schools is wise, as schools require sufficient resources to offer high-quality education. For example, a smart classroom with a functioning visualiser and TV screen with fast Wi-Fi to access information on the Internet can help facilitate the learning process. Such an initiative will help to improve access to education throughout the country by lowering the barriers to education.
Investment in Youth Employment
It is also vital to provide opportunities for us to gain work experience and develop soft skills to secure better employment. In the short run, we can increase GDP per head and combat poverty. In the long run, we can promote socioeconomic development and realise the state of a developed country. But, unfortunately, the unemployment rate of youths aged 15 to 24 years old is 11.8%, compared to the overall unemployment rate of 3.6%, according to the December 2022 report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, which shows that Malaysia's youth unemployment rate is higher than the overall unemployment rate.
The good news is that the government has introduced several incentives to provide jobs with meaningful income in the national budget. The government has allocated RM40 million to finance micro-credentials upskilling programs for gig workers and has shown efforts to encourage automation in the plantation sector with robotics and artificial intelligence technologies. Consequently, these will generate more highly-skilled jobs to be filled by educated job seekers. However, the extent of effectiveness of these initiatives depends on the quality of training offered and the relevance of the skills. If the training is poorly conducted, the workers will not receive valuable inputs to be applied in their respective industries. Such a situation will only waste taxpayers' money and the stakeholders' time. Nonetheless, these initiatives only work in the short run to reduce the unemployment rate and I expect more drastic efforts to upskill us to an employable level by equipping us with industry-ready skills.
Investment in Social Support for Youth
As mental health issues among Malaysian youths have become more prevalent, providing us with social support, such as mentoring and counselling services, is essential to help us navigate challenges and build resilience. The youth is the backbone of the nation. If we are not given enough care, the growth and development of the country will be retarded. The data on the increase in suicide cases in 2021 is an alarm to the government to strengthen efforts to address mental health issues among youth through targeted interventions, education campaigns and increased access to mental health services. The budget has touched on establishing the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH) and running a series of mental health wellness improvement programs through MyMYNDA. The objectives of these initiatives are good, but policies must support these initiatives to encourage participation in the programs and consumption of the services provided by NCEMH so that helpfulness is guaranteed.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I am confident that the budget will bring satisfactory returns on youth investment. I hope the government can build a brighter future through transparent and effective budget implementation. Despite these efforts, there is still much fiscal space to invest in more effective and promising programs. Actions such as education reform to ensure the relevance of the syllabi with world trends are time-consuming in terms of planning, presenting, and administering until the valuable outcomes can be seen. That said, the government should have the courage to close ineffective programs, reallocate resources, and seek appropriate additional funding to invest in the best interest of the people and the nation. Doing this would involve working closely with young people, youth organisations, and other stakeholders to design and implement effective policies and programs to support youth development and achieve the country's long-term goals.
Wong Yong Xuan is currently studying Cambridge A-level at Taylor's College. She received the Petronas Scholarship to further her studies at Taylor's.
