PREMIER Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to announce full details of the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) on Dec 18.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said 64 courses have been approved under FTES across four Sarawak-owned institutions of higher learning.
The scheme applies only to Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak and i-CATS University College.
“Included under this scheme is a RM15,000 stipend for students from households with a per capita income of RM1,500 or below per month. Out of the RM15,000, RM5,000 will be allocated specifically for accommodation.
“The amount will be channelled directly to the residential or housing units at each Sarawak Institute of Higher Learning for them to manage on the students’ behalf.
“The remaining RM10,000 will be disbursed directly to the students’ accounts through S Pay Global,” he said when delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the august House today (Dec 1).
Alluding to Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen’s proposal to extend FTES to all Sarawakian students studying in universities throughout Malaysia, including UNIMAS and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Sagah said the proposal was not feasible under current policy.
He said implementing a tuition-free scheme for federal institutions nationwide would require a policy decision and funding from the Federal Government and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
“While federal public universities already charge very minimal fees, making them affordable for all, UNIMAS and UiTM still fall outside the financial and administrative jurisdiction of the Sarawak government’s FTES,” he added.
