By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, May 27: More than 80 per cent of courses will be offered free of charge from next year as part of Sarawak’s initiative to build a highly skilled workforce, says Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD) Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
Dr Annuar provided a breakdown of the free course offerings at Sarawak’s three main State-owned higher education institutions: Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak (Swinburne) will offer 22 out of 25 courses (88 per cent) tuition-free; University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), 15 out of 18 (83.3 per cent); and Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin), 21 out of 28 (75 per cent).
He has yet to receive the survey findings from i-CATS University College.
“All in all is 82 per cent out of all the courses offered by these three universities (Swinburne, UTS, Curtin) will be free next year. It’s almost 100 per cent,” said Dr Annuar in response to Padungan assemblyman, Chong Chieng Jen’s question on why free education is not extended to all courses.
Dr Annuar explained that the policy is purposefully designed to tackle the shortage of highly skilled workers, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and other professional disciplines.
He noted that many unemployed graduates today come from humanities backgrounds, often because the students were placed into courses they did not choose.
According to Dr Annuar, a small survey conducted by MEITD revealed that up to 80 per cent of Sarawakian students were not offered their first-choice programmes through the centralised university placement system (UPU). Many ended up in their seventh or eighth option, usually in fields with limited job opportunities.
For those not placed in their preferred courses via UPU, he said students can instead apply to Sarawak-owned educational institutions, which now offer an alternative pathway with tuition-free programmes tailored to meet the State’s workforce demands.
“We will provide something that can give you a better future. That is why we offer (free tuition) only for certain courses,” said Dr Annuar.
The current list of 64 approved courses, Dr Annuar clarified, is not exhaustive and will be reviewed periodically based on demand, employability, and input from industry and academic experts.
The decisions to expand the list of free programmes were carefully made through a multi-tiered review process. Independent institutions such as Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) evaluate proposed additions and advise the ministry before the Cabinet gives the final approval.
Dr Annuar also explained that although there are no formal bonds attached to the free tertiary education scheme (FTES), he said that there are safeguards to ensure students do not take advantage of the policy.
On May 26, 2025, Chong highlighted a contrast between the Sarawak government’s RM100 million allocation for air charters and the limited scope of free tertiary education offered to Sarawakians in State-owned universities.
He questioned why the State government would restrict free education to the fields of STEM, law, finance, and accounting; arguing that if the State could afford RM100 million for air charter services, it should also be able to afford less than RM150 million annually to provide free tuition across all courses for Sarawakians in its own institutions. –DayakDaily
