By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, Aug 27: Education has long been heralded as a cornerstone of progress and prosperity, both for individuals and society. It equips people with the skills, knowledge, and perspectives needed to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world. At the individual level, education transforms lives.
It nurtures personal growth, boosts employability, and fosters purpose, and self-confidence. At the societal level, it drives innovation, reduces inequality, and forms the backbone of sustainable economic development. Yet, for many, the cost of higher education remains an overwhelming hurdle, curtailing potential, and stifling dreams.
Recognising education as a right rather than a privilege, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg introduced a landmark initiative in early 2022: the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which is set to begin in 2026. This transformative policy represents a bold and historic leap in Sarawak’s pursuit of equitable access to higher learning and human capital development.
Towards a Skilled and Knowledgeable Sarawak
Abang Johari views education as the most effective weapon against poverty. Through FTES, the State aims to narrow the rural-urban divide by equipping students with future-ready skills tailored for Sarawak’s green, digital, and innovation-led economy. Eligibility for FTES is open to all Sarawakians, as verified through the ‘K’ indicator on their MyKad, ensuring that the scheme is reserved for those with genuine roots in the State.
In line with Sarawak’s inclusive educational philosophy, Abang Johari added that holders of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) will also be eligible to apply, further broadening access for students from diverse academic backgrounds.
By lifting financial barriers, the policy encourages broader participation in higher education, particularly among marginalised groups. As more students are steered into essential and emerging sectors, graduate employability is projected to rise, contributing to a more robust and competitive labour force.
The Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme
On March 20, 2025, the Sarawak Cabinet approved the FTES, which will offer free tuition fees to eligible Sarawakian students enrolled in recognised institutions within the State. Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, later on March 28, 2025, added that those from low-income households—defined as those with a monthly per capita income of RM1,500 or below—will receive a yearly stipend of RM15,000 to support their living and study expenses.
Beyond covering tuition fees, the allowance is intended to ease the burden for students, particularly students who come from rural areas. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian underscored this on March 29, 2025, noting that food and accommodation costs are significant concerns. He said the RM15,000 allowance could make a crucial difference, especially when tuition alone, such as at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne), can reach up to RM39,000 per programme.
Supporting this view, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew described FTES as a groundbreaking initiative—the first of its kind in Malaysia.
On March 28, 2025, he highlighted the struggles many families face in funding their children’s education, particularly single-parent households and daily wage earners. “This RM15,000 allowance is specifically designed for students who genuinely need financial aid, ensuring they can focus on their education without additional financial burdens,” he said. Ting also noted that financial stress often forces students into part-time work, which could jeopardise their academic progress. He cited instances where students had to drop out despite having benefited from free secondary education.
Institutions and Programmes Covered
The first phase of FTES will be implemented across all Sarawak-owned institutions of higher learning. This includes prominent universities such as Curtin University Malaysia and Swinburne, both of which have long established themselves as centres of academic excellence within the region. Joining them are the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS), and the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs), which together form the core of the State’s higher education ecosystem.
The estimated cost of providing free education for 25,000 students across these institutions, which includes a comprehensive range of undergraduate programmes but excludes medical and dentistry degrees, is projected to be approximately RM625 million per year. However, even before FTES, the Sarawak government has been providing free education since 2018 to students pursuing medicine at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), with the government bearing RM80,000 per student per year.
Subsequently, on August 23, 2024, the Sarawak Skills Development Centre—widely recognised for its contributions to technical and vocational training—was formally added to the list. The scheme is tailored to prioritise undergraduate degree programmes aligned with Sarawak’s future development needs. Among these are fields classified under Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), along with key professional disciplines such as Law, Medicine, Accounting, and Finance.
These areas not only reflect the growing demands of the global economy but also align with the State’s aspirations to cultivate a digitally fluent, technologically competent and financially literate workforce.
Sagah added that students who are already enrolled in these institutions and programmes will also benefit from FTES when it comes into effect in 2026. In doing so, the initiative ensures continuity and fairness, while reinforcing the government’s commitment to supporting both current and future generations of Sarawakian scholars. The second phase of the scheme will explore the extension of free tertiary education to Sarawakian students enrolled in public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) located within the State. This includes the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak branch.
Abang Johari had agreed to this expansion in principle on March 10, 2025, following a proposal presented by UiTM Sarawak Rector Professor Dr Firdaus Abdullah during a courtesy call. While this agreement does not yet amount to a formal policy implementation, it signals a significant and encouraging step forward, indicating the Premier’s openness to broadening the scheme’s reach beyond State-owned institutions.
A Transformative Investment in the Future
The implications of FTES extend well beyond individual households. For Sarawak, free tertiary education is not a cost—it is a calculated investment. Abang Johari, who serves as pro-chancellor of several key institutions including Unimas, Swinburne, and UTS, has consistently championed educational excellence as a driver of economic progress and social cohesion. His involvement in these institutions is not ceremonial; it demonstrates a deeper commitment to strengthening Sarawak’s higher education landscape.
Through this close engagement, he has worked to align academic direction with the State’s broader development agenda, ensuring that universities are not only centres of learning but also engines of innovation and social transformation.
FTES affirms Sarawak’s vision of becoming a hub of talent, innovation and opportunity. It is designed to reduce inequality, expand social mobility, and fortify the State’s competitiveness in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy. In essence, it is a declaration that in Sarawak, access to higher education is not a privilege for the few but a right for all. – DayakDaily
