ALTHOUGH the Sarawak government’s upcoming Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) marks a milestone in expanding access to higher education, it must not come at the expense of students pursuing Arts and Humanities courses, said Bawang Assan assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh.
Wong commended the state’s decision to implement FTES in 2026, which aims to improve access to higher education and build a skilled workforce.
“Sarawak will implement the Free Tertiary Education Scheme ( FTES), which marks a significant stride towards enhancing educational accessibility and fostering a skilled workforce, particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
“Besides STEM, the scheme will also encompass courses in Law, Medicine, Accounting and Finance,” he said when debating in support of the motion of appreciation to the Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s speech in the august house on Thursday.
However, he expressed that while prioritising science-related courses is a strategic move to support Sarawak’s future economy, there is a concern that Arts and Humanities must not be overlooked.
“While we understand that focusing on science-related courses is a strategic investment to develop a workforce for industries that could propel Sarawak’s future economy, but in so doing, I hope we do not neglect Arts and Humanities courses,” he said.
Wong pointed out that society cannot function solely on STEM, as areas such as commerce, education, communication, and community development rely on critical thinkers, educators, historians, linguists, and social scientists.
“Sarawak has a rich cultural heritage and we need graduates in the Arts and Humanities to preserve and promote it.
“We must remember that those in Arts-related courses may come from less affluent backgrounds and by denying them free education may worsen inequality,” he said.
Furthermore, Wong acknowledges the importance of incentivising fields crucial to economic growth, such as STEM, but he argues that education policy must also remain inclusive and forward-thinking.
“We must make room for flexibility and interdisciplinary education where science students can take on ethics and arts students can learn data analysis.
“This way, students can develop into multi-dimensional human beings as well as well-rounded men and women of taste, discernment and intellectual versatility,” he said.
