LAWAS: The Sarawak government continues to invest in education despite it being under federal jurisdiction, expanding financial assistance, higher education access and technical training to ensure no Sarawakian is left behind due to financial constraints.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said education remains one of the state’s top priorities as it is a long-term investment in developing a skilled and competitive workforce capable of driving Sarawak’s future growth.
“The Sarawak government does not want to see any of our children unable to pursue higher education simply because of financial constraints. That is why we have introduced various forms of assistance, including the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), scholarships, education aid and allowances for eligible students.
“For the Sarawak government, education is a major long-term investment because it is through education that we can produce quality, skilled and competitive human capital that will determine Sarawak’s future as a developed, high-income state,” he said when officiating the FTES Education Expo and the 2026 Lawas District MADANI Education Carnival held at the Lawas Indoor Stadium recently.
Awang Tengah said the state government is also strengthening technical education and skills training through the Sarawak Centre of Technical Excellence (CENTEXS), including enhancing CENTEXS Lawas as a training hub capable of meeting the workforce needs of industries in northern Sarawak.
He said that Sarawak’s economy is increasingly shifting towards high-technology industries, the green economy, digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), making it crucial for young people to pursue courses aligned with future labour market demands.
“I encourage our young people to choose fields with high demand such as engineering, information technology, accounting, semiconductors and other technical disciplines because these are the skills needed to drive Sarawak’s future development.
“Believe in your own abilities. Education has the power to transform lives. With knowledge, skills and the right attitude, Sarawakian youths will be able to compete at both the national and international levels,” he added.
On infrastructure development, Awang Tengah said that the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) has allocated RM160 million to undertake the construction of new educational facilities and the upgrading of existing schools throughout the Limbang Division, including Lawas.
He said the allocation will help create a more conducive learning environment through new school buildings and improved facilities.
Separately, he said the Sarawak Land and Survey Department is collaborating with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to offer surveying-related courses, while discussions will also be held with the management of CENTEXS Lawas to introduce new programmes tailored to evolving industry requirements.
