KUCHING: Sarawak’s free tertiary education scheme (FTES) has benefited 4,694 Sarawakian students at four state-owned higher learning institutions so far this year, says state Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.
He said the total comprised 172 students at i-CATS University College, 543 at Curtin University Malaysia, 1,959 at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak and 2,020 at University of Technology Sarawak.
“They include existing students as well as those who enrolled before March 31.
“The number of recipients will increase after the June and September enrolment,” he told Safiee Ahmad (GPS-Daro) during question time in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly yesterday.
Dr Annuar said a total of 10,000 students in Sarawak were expected to enjoy free tertiary education this year.
However, he said 1,433 students had declined the FTES offer because they already had existing scholarship agreements.
Dr Annuar also said the state government was committed to maintaining the sustainability of FTES.
“We have strong fiscal reserves, prudent financial management and consistent surplus budget to ensure that FTES will continue.
“When we invest in education, the returns are long term as Sarawakians will be equipped with skills and knowledge for our economic development,” he said.
FTES was implemented starting this year with an allocation of RM250mil under the 2026 state budget.
It covers 64 undergraduate degree programmes in STEM-related fields, law, medicine, accounting, finance and psychology.
