By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 18: Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) is currently finalising the details to implement free tertiary education at State-owned higher learning institutions.
Its minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the details include the range of courses covered and other key aspects of the initiative.
He announced this when presenting his ministerial wind-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.
During a press conference afterwards, Sagah clarified that while the specific courses and deadlines are still under review, the Sarawak government has a year to finalise the programme, assuring that the decision would be made within 2025.
“We have one year to do it.
“But the most important is that by 2026, there is a budget for it. Then we can have the money released in 2026,” he said.
While the exact date remains unset, he mentioned that the free tertiary education programme will certainly roll out in 2026.
Free tertiary education in Sarawak refers to a government initiative aimed at providing financial support for students pursuing higher education in the State, specifically at State-owned public universities, starting in 2026.
Sarawak owns five such institutions so far, namely Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), i-CATS University College, and Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS).
Also present during the press conference were Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development I (Education and Innovation) Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee and Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development II (Talent Development) Datuk Francis Harden Hollis. — DayakDaily
