SARAWAK’S groundbreaking Free Tertiary Education Scheme has been lauded as a major step forward in building the state’s human capital, particularly in strategic sectors.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Deputy Minister, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, noted the initiative will cover tuition fees for Sarawakian students pursuing selected courses.
“This is a noble policy by the Sarawak Government, aimed at enabling more students, especially those from low-income families, to enter university without the burden of student debt,” he said.
He said this during the question-and-answer session at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting in Kuching on Thursday in response to a question by Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (GPS-Tupong).
According to Dr Annuar, the scheme reflects the state government’s strong commitment to ensuring equitable access to higher education.
“It also aligns with the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which targets a minimum of 30 per cent highly skilled workforce by the year 2030,” he added.
He said the policy will prioritise courses in STEM fields and professional programmes such as accountancy and finance, in line with Sarawak’s development needs in the digital economy, green economy, aerospace and renewable energy.
“We want to avoid producing unemployed graduates.
“The courses offered under this scheme are carefully selected to match current market demands and workforce needs in Sarawak,” he added.
Dr Annuar also said the scheme is expected to increase enrolment in local universities while reducing the state’s reliance on foreign labour in key sectors.
“Most importantly, this initiative will help eliminate the need for students to take on PTPTN loans, thus allowing them to graduate debt-free,” he opined.
“In addition to covering tuition fees, the government is also providing support through the Sarawak Kategori Pendapatan Rendah (SKYPEN) scheme.
“Students with a household per capita income of RM1,500 or less will receive RM15,000 annually to cover accommodation, living expenses, and other necessities,”he added.
“This is separate from the Premier’s recently announced RM1,200 Special Financial Assistance (BKK), which is open to all Sarawakian students in public and private universities regardless of income level,” he said.
To further support rural students, the state has allocated RM20 million for the Sarawak Educational Enhancement Programme.
The initiative provides free tuition for Form 3 to Form 5 students, with the goal of improving science education and increasing their chances of entering university under the Free Tertiary Education Scheme.
“We recognise the challenges faced by students from rural areas, particularly in science subjects.
“With this programme, we hope to level the playing field and enable more students to qualify for tertiary education in critical areas,” he said.
