Society should brush aside the notion that skills education and training are only suitable for those who are less academically inclined for the sake of national economic development, said Kedah state executive councillor Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail.

He said this was also important to attract more people to pursue skill-based training programmes.

"It is vital to have more youths pursue skills training as this will improve their employablity and enhance overall competitiveness in the face of global economic challenges," he said in his speech at the closing of the North Zone Malaysian Skills Carnival 2017 at Darul Aman Stadium Sunday.

Also present were Deputy Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib and State Science, Innovation, Information Technology, Communications, High Technology and Human Resource Committee chairman Datuk Norsabrina Mohd Noor. - BERNAMA