SANDAKAN: National Training Week (NTW) 2026 was launched in Sandakan on Saturday, making Sabah the first state in Borneo to host the national skills development initiative since its introduction in 2023.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the launch reflects the Government's commitment to strengthening lifelong learning through free courses aimed at enhancing participants' skills and employability.
He said this year's NTW, themed "Learn, Experience, Master", will run from July 20 to 26, with 856 training providers offering 4,471 courses to more than 18,471 participants nationwide, including 210 free courses in Sabah, of which 80 are in Sandakan.
Speaking after officiating the launch at the Sandakan Community Hall, Khairul said 1,436 registrations had been recorded in Sabah so far, including 713 in Sandakan, while urging the public to take advantage of opportunities to upskill and improve their employment prospects.
During the event, he also presented education incentives to 149 outstanding 2025 SPM students in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency, comprising RM1,500 for students who obtained at least 5As and RM2,000 for those with 7As or more, besides proposing an RM3,000 incentive from next year for students achieving 9As and above.
