By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 13: The student intake policy at Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School (YSISS) in Petra Jaya and Kuching (Mile 12) is based solely on merit and academic excellence, with no consideration of racial background.
Deputy Minister of Education and Innovation Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee emphasised this after presenting the current enrollment statistics for these two Sarawak-owned international schools when debating the Sarawak Budget 2025 in the august House today.
He disclosed that the student body consists of 36.2 per cent Malay, 19.1 per cent Bidayuh, 18.17 per cent Iban, 12.2 per cent Chinese, 7.9 per cent Melanau, 3.7 per cent Orang Ulu, and 2.2 per cent from other ethnicities.
Additionally, 55.4 per cent of YSISS students come from the B40 income group, in line with the school’s policy requiring that at least 50 per cent of students are from low-income backgrounds.
Currently, 32.3 per cent of students are from the M40 (middle-income) group, and 12.3 percent are from the T20 (top-income) group.
This policy seeks to expand access to quality education for lower-income families, supporting students in achieving life success.
Dr Annuar explained that the school’s demographic breakdown may reflect the population distribution in Sarawak’s southern zone, where these schools are located.
“When new YSISS schools open in Sibu, Miri, and Bintulu, the demographic distribution will likely change. However, the most important factor is that students are admitted based on two criteria: a minimum Band 5 in Primary Six, as assessed by qualifying exams conducted by Yayasan Sarawak and Swinburne University,” he told a press conference at the Media Centre.
He added that students apply through their school principals, who make recommendations for admission.
Dr Annuar clarified that while students are categorised by socio-economic group—B40, M40, or T20—admission is based on academic merit.
“The policy has nothing to do with racial background; it’s strictly merit-based. For instance, if you are among the top 50 in the B40 category, your admission is merit-based. While we categorise students, it’s to ensure that we help those from poor families and rural areas.
“We want a transparent system that doesn’t disadvantage students from rural areas, as each group has a designated intake cap,” he said.
Currently, the two YSISS campuses enroll a total of 403 students, with 259 at Petra Jaya and 144 at Mile 12. — DayakDaily
