By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, April 22: The Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) is not a licence for students to take their studies lightly, as those who fail to complete their studies within the stipulated period may be required to bear the full cost of their education, which can be substantial.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Deputy Minister for Education and Innovation Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee stressed that the free education initiative by the Sarawak government comes with significant responsibility and must be taken seriously.
“Treating a fully funded opportunity with complacency could pose a serious risk to students’ academic progress and future prospects,” he said this when officiating the FTES Dialogue Session at the Sarawak University of Technology (UTS) in Sibu on Tuesday (April 21).
Dr Annuar, who is also Nangka assemblyman, stressed that the State government has allocated RM250 million this year to implement the scheme, underscoring the need for students to fully commit to maximising the opportunity provided.
“Students who fail to complete their studies within the prescribed timeframe will be required to shoulder the remaining tuition costs themselves, which could place a significant financial burden on both them and their families,” he warned.
At the same time, he reminded students that this opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime initiative that was not available to previous generations.
In addition to full tuition fee exemption, the FTES also provides a living allowance of RM15,000 per year for eligible students.
However, Dr Annuar acknowledged initial delays in the disbursement of allowances and said Yayasan Sarawak is taking immediate steps to improve and streamline the process.
He further explained that only 64 courses are currently offered as the programme is being rolled out in phases, aligned with the State’s workforce requirements and the principle of equity.
The dialogue session was attended by more than 2,000 eligible UTS students, who form the pioneer cohort under the FTES initiative. — DayakDaily
