BAU: Parents and students should make full use of available educational opportunities and seek first-hand information before deciding on their next step after secondary school, said Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
The Deputy Minister for Transport (Riverine and Marine) said students today had numerous pathways to choose from, whether pursuing higher education, entering technical and vocational education and training (TVET), or applying for educational assistance and sponsorship provided by the Government.
The Tasik Biru assemblyman said understanding the available opportunities is crucial to ensuring students make informed decisions about their education and future careers.
“Therefore, I hope that parents and children present today will take this opportunity to obtain information directly from the institutions and agencies involved,” he said in his speech during the FTES Expo at the SJK Chung Hua Bau Main Hall today.
Henry said education remained a key pillar in Sarawak’s development, with the State Government placing strong emphasis on human capital development alongside physical and infrastructure development.
He said Sarawak needed a generation equipped with knowledge, skills and capabilities to seize employment opportunities and contribute to the state’s continued progress.
“For this reason, the Sarawak Government, through Yayasan Sarawak and related agencies, continues to provide various forms of educational assistance, scholarships, loans and educational initiatives to help Sarawakian students pursue their studies,” he said.
Henry said the implementation of the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) was another important initiative aimed at expanding access to higher education for eligible Sarawakians.
At its initial stage, FTES involved four higher education institutions – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and i-CATS University College.
He said the programmes offered under the scheme covered fields aligned with current economic and industry requirements, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), accounting, finance, law, medicine and psychology.
Describing the progress of FTES as encouraging, Henry said 4,694 students had benefited from the scheme as of March 31, 2026.
He said the beneficiaries were from UTS, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia and i-CATS University College.
Henry also encouraged parents and students attending the expo to engage directly with participating institutions and agencies to better understand the courses, funding opportunities and pathways available to them.
He said access to the right information could help students make better choices and prepare themselves for future employment and career opportunities.
