SARAWAK must develop a highly skilled, technology-driven workforce capable of adapting to rapid global changes to ensure the state remains progressive and competitive, said Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
In his address at the opening of the first meeting of the Fifth Term of the 19th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here Monday, he said the state government therefore remains firmly committed to strengthening education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), to produce skilled professionals and a future-ready workforce.
“The world today is witnessing extremely rapid technological development. Therefore, Sarawak requires highly skilled human capital that is technologically competent and capable of adapting to current changes to ensure the state continues to progress and remain competitive,” he said.
He said the state’s commitment to STEM and TVET education was aimed at producing skilled workers, professionals, and highly trained talent capable of meeting the demands of strategic sectors such as hydrogen, aerospace, green energy, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Wan Junaidi stressed that parents, teachers, schools, and community leaders must work with the government to encourage greater interest among Sarawakian youths in STEM and TVET-related fields.
“Parents, teachers, schools and community leaders must work together with the government in guiding and encouraging Sarawakian children to become more interested in STEM and TVET fields and not take the easy route in determining their educational direction,” he said.
“This is important in producing a highly skilled generation capable of fulfilling the future needs of the state,” he added.
He also highlighted the Sarawak government’s major commitment towards empowering human capital development through educational assistance, the establishment of international schools and the provision of free tertiary education at state-owned higher learning institutions.
“Under the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which commenced this year, tuition fees for selected courses such as STEM, medicine and law at state-owned institutions, including University of Technology Sarawak, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia and i-CATS University College, will be fully funded by the state government,” he said.
He said the initiative reflected the government’s serious commitment to ensuring that Sarawakian youths had access to quality education without financial burden.
“To help ease the burden on students, especially those from the B40 group, additional assistance such as living allowances, laptops and book vouchers will also be provided through Yayasan Sarawak.
“The establishment of Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary Schools (YSISS), which adopt the Cambridge curriculum, would allow eligible students to enjoy free international-standard education,” he added.
At the same time, he stressed that dilapidated schools, particularly in rural areas, must continue to be upgraded to ensure that students outside urban areas could study in a safer, more comfortable, and more conducive environment.
“Overall, these initiatives reflect the state government’s continuous efforts to produce a highly skilled, competitive and globally capable younger generation without burdening them with financial difficulties,” he said.
Apart from academic and technical excellence, Wan Junaidi also emphasised the importance of nurturing moral values, integrity and ethics among the younger generation.
“In our efforts to produce quality human capital, moral values, integrity and ethics must continue to be nurtured so that the progress achieved goes hand in hand with the development of good character and strong morals,” he said.
