KUCHING: The Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) has welcomed the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) starting in 2026, calling it a milestone for inclusive education and sustainable talent development in Sarawak.
SDGA said FTES reflects the Sarawak government’s strong commitment to widening access to higher education and investing in long-term human capital, particularly for communities that have historically faced financial barriers to tertiary studies.
SDGA president Ts Rizzo Mungka Rechie said the success of FTES must be measured not only by enrolment, but by graduate outcomes.
“We don’t just build programmes, we build people. Sarawak has strong foundations, and with the right systems in place, we can nurture graduates into capable professionals who are ready to serve Sarawak.”
While acknowledging the role of initiatives such as the Graduate Employability and Training Scheme–Workplace Readiness Programme (GETS-WRP), SDGA stressed that such programmes should be viewed as building blocks rather than standalone solutions.
“The association believes there is a need to progressively develop a broader, structured jobs funnel model to complement FTES and strengthen the transition from education to employment.”
According to SDGA, a comprehensive jobs funnel should go beyond application-based training by creating an integrated pathway that begins during a student’s academic journey and continues through to actual job placement.
“This includes early talent identification, structured industry exposure, employer-aligned training, accredited industrial placements or apprenticeships, and coordinated matching between graduates and employers.
“Private sector participation was highlighted as a critical component of the model. SDGA noted that earlier and deeper industry involvement would allow companies to shape talent based on real operational needs, reduce onboarding costs, and recruit graduates who are more job-ready.
“This, in turn, would strengthen collaboration between education institutions and industry while improving workforce productivity.”
He noted that a well-structured jobs funnel supporting FTES would help Sarawak retain its talent by offering clear local career pathways.
“By reducing skills mismatch and improving graduate readiness, the state can mitigate future brain drain and ensure the economic benefits of free tertiary education remain within Sarawak.”
He said the association stands ready to collaborate with the Sarawak government, higher education institutions and industry partners to strengthen GETS-WRP, develop a comprehensive jobs funnel model, and ensure Sarawak’s graduates are not only educated, but professionally ready and locally retained.
