By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 10: The Sarawak government’s newly-introduced ‘UTS Bursary Scheme’ will cover 80 per cent of the tuition fees for B40 and M40 Sarawakian students of University Technology Sarawak (UTS).
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in announcing this, said the scheme would accomodate 100 Bumiputera students and another 100 non-Bumiputera students per year.
“Based on the five-year projection, it shows the State government’s contribution and commitment of RM3 million per year, from UTS,” he said.
Under the ‘UTS Foundation Scholarship’, he added, the Sarawak government will bear a tuition fee of RM10,000 per student for all Foundation students in UTS.
The reduction in tuition fees to be paid by students and families was estimated to be about RM4.5 million to RM7 million per year for five years.
The third incentive – ‘UTS Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarship’ – will also be funded by the Sarawak government under its Special Scholarship Scheme for Sarawakian students in the undergraduate and postgraduate programs by bearing 50 per cent of the tuition fees.
The five-year projection suggested a contribution by the State government of RM17.2 million to RM27 million per year from UTS.
Other than the three new major scholarship schemes, Abang Johari also noted other financial assistances from Yayasan Sarawak, in the form of interest-free education loans covering learning and living costs for students in UTS.
“With the availability of scholarships and other financial incentives, it will provide more opportunities for Sarawakians at all levels to further their studies at UTS which is wholly owned by the Sarawak government.
“This initiative will also provide greater access to affordable higher education for all students in rural areas, especially students who are from the B40 category.
“With the reshuffle in terms of fees, UTS is expected to have a maximum capacity of 4,000 students by 2024,” he said during the launching of UTS at UTS campus here today.
The incentives introduced today, Abang Johari said, was due to his commitment in ensuring all Sarawakians have access to higher education, especially those in rural areas and in the B40 groups. — DayakDaily
