SIBU: The Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) is not a licence for students to be complacent; failure to complete studies within the stipulated period may result in them having to bear the high cost of their education themselves.
In stating this, Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said that the free education opportunity offered by the Sarawak Government comes with significant responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
“A careless attitude toward something obtained for free poses a serious risk that could jeopardise students’ futures,” he said.
He said this while speaking at the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) Dialogue Session at Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) on Tuesday.
According to him, the state government has allocated RM250 million this year to implement the scheme, which requires a high level of commitment from students to fully utilise the opportunity.
He added that students who fail to complete their studies within the set timeframe will have to bear the remaining education costs themselves, which could become a significant financial burden for them and their families.
At the same time, he emphasised that this opportunity for free education comes only once in a lifetime and was never enjoyed by previous generations.
In addition to tuition fee exemptions, the FTES scheme also provides a living allowance of RM15,000 per year for eligible students.
However, he acknowledged delays in the disbursement of allowances during the early stages of implementation, and said that Yayasan Sarawak is taking immediate steps to improve the process.
Further commenting, he explained that only 64 courses are currently offered, as the implementation is being carried out in stages based on the state’s workforce needs and the principle of equity.
The dialogue session was attended by more than 2,000 UTS students eligible for the FTES scheme, who are also the first cohort.
