KUANTAN: Grab Malaysia food delivery riders and e-hailing drivers can now realise their dreams of pursuing higher education through specially tailored training courses offered by KYP Education Sdn Bhd (KESB).
The gig workers now have the chance to work and study flexibly by attending short courses offered by KESB, fully owned by the Pahang government, at their campus here.
KESB board of directors chairman Datuk Seri Shahaniza Shamsuddin said the cooperation agreement signed between Grab and KESB would allow gig workers to upskill and create income opportunities.
"The first batch involves some 30 gig workers who will attend courses offered between four and six months. They will continue working as drivers and riders while attending classes on a part-time basis.
"Both the University College of Yayasan Pahang and Kolej Yayasan Pahang will offer special courses on communication, financial management and Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes for the gig workers. Upon completing their studies, the students will graduate with certificates from KESB and Grab," she told reporters here today.
Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Shahaniza had earlier witnessed the cooperation agreement signing ceremony between UCYP's board of governors chairman Tan Sri Professor Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur and Grab Malaysia's country operations and mobility director Rashid Shukor.
Meanwhile, Shahaniza said Grab had chosen Pahang as the first state to establish its academic strategic partnership and believed the collaboration would allow gig workers a chance to further their education.
"Yayasan Pahang has also pledged to support the initiative by providing education loans for gig workers who qualify to join the programmes offered by KESB," she said, adding the programme would begin after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Meanwhile, Rashid said the partnership would create a positive impact for the drivers and riders as they now had the opportunity to improve their education level and explore other career opportunities.
During the event, Wan Rosdy also launched the job placement programme to empower KESB's graduate employability after achieving 90 per cent employability in 2022.