By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 18: A ‘Siswa Balik Sekolah’ (Students Back to School) programme will be introduced starting next year by the Sarawak government to ensure that the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), set to launch in 2026, genuinely benefits rural students, particularly in strengthening their proficiency in core subjects such as Mathematics, Science, and English.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said the programme is still in the early stages of discussion with universities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
However, he emphasised that it has already been identified as a crucial mechanism to identify, guide, and empower rural students to ensure they are not left behind from the benefits of free education.
“If free education is implemented but fails to reach rural students, it defeats the purpose. Rural students may not fully seize this opportunity if we do not provide them with a strong academic foundation starting from primary school,” he said when officiating the TCS-Yayasan Taqwa Education Aid presentation and appreciation ceremony today.
Dr Annuar explained that under the Siswa Balik Sekolah programme, universities and colleges across Sarawak will be asked to ‘adopt’ one or two primary schools, particularly in rural areas.
University students will volunteer during semester breaks to assist Year 3 to Year 6 pupils in strengthening their grasp of core academic subjects.
“We want university students to give back to society. They will mentor and guide primary school pupils with a focus on Mathematics, Science, and English.
“This initiative is also aligned with the implementation of the Dual Language Programme (DLP) and aims to cultivate early interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics),” he said.
The programme is expected to be officially rolled out next year, with activities conducted during university semester breaks.
Four universities have been identified to pilot the programme across different zones, with Swinburne University and i-CATS for the southern zone, University Technology Sarawak (UTS) for the central zone, and Curtin University for the northern zone of Sarawak.
Dr Annuar added that his ministry is currently in discussions with the Sarawak Education Department (JPNS) and strategic higher education partners to finalise the programme’s implementation within the next six months. — DayakDaily
