Sarawak's free tertiary education scheme paves way for skilled workforce by 2030, says Dr Annuar
Dr Annuar says the free education policy is also specifically designed to ensure that graduates are highly employable, with a focus on STEM-based courses, as well as professional fields such as accounting and finance. – The Borneo Post photo
KUCHING (May 22): The state government continues to strengthen its commitment to human capital development through the implementation of the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which is seen as a key catalyst in achieving the target of 30 per cent highly skilled workforce by 2030, in line with the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
According to Deputy State Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, the scheme not only opens up educational opportunities for students from low-income families, but also supports the growth of strategic sectors such as the digital economy, green economy, aerospace, and renewable energy.
'This policy is a noble one as it not only helps underprivileged students to further their education, but also has the potential to completely eliminate the need for them to incur debt after graduation.
'In addition, university enrolment is bound to increase, and this in turn will reduce our dependence on foreign workers in those fields,' he said in response to a question from Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (GPS-Tupong) at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
Dr Annuar highlighted that under the FTES, the Sarawak government offers free tuition at state-owned universities.
Additionally, students from families with a per capita income of RM1,500 or below will receive a living allowance of RM15,000 per year, which covers accommodation, meals, and basic student necessities, he said.
'I would like to clarify here that the RM15,000 allocation is separate from the RM1,200 Special Government Assistance (BKK) given to all Sarawakian students in higher learning institutions, regardless of family income.'
He added that this free education policy is also specifically designed to ensure that graduates are highly employable, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-based courses, as well as professional fields such as accounting and finance.
'We do not want to produce unemployed graduates simply because their field of study does not match market demands. This free education scheme is targeted at fields that are relevant to current labour market demands in Sarawak,' he said.
He also said this initiative can help address the issue of students being offered courses they are not interested in through the Central University Admission Unit (UPU), particularly due to stiff competition in public universities.
'With the existence of state-owned universities and financial support from FTES, more students can pursue studies in fields they are passionate about and which match their individual potential,' he said. dr annuar rapaee DUN free tertiary education lead
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