KUCHING: The Sarawak Government has allocated RM250 million under the state’s 2026 Budget for the implementation of the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), which is set to benefit Sarawakian students starting next year.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, stated that the scheme is a transformative initiative aimed at producing a future-ready workforce and ensuring that access to higher education is based on merit and ability, without being constrained by financial limitations.

"Following extensive consultation with government-owned universities and Yayasan Sarawak, 64 bachelor's degree programmes have been identified for inclusion under this scheme."

"For this purpose, RM250 million will be provided for the FTES in 2026," he said while presenting the Supply (2026) Bill, 2025 during the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) here on Monday.

In addition, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari announced that the Sarawak Government will allocate RM36 million to launch the operations of the Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary Schools (YSISS) next year.

Furthermore, RM13 million under Alternative Funding is provided for the initial expansion work of the campus to Bintulu and Miri, complementing the existing campuses in Kuching and Sibu.

The Premier added that the Sarawak Government is also strengthening early childhood education with an allocation of RM22 million for SeDidik, in addition to RM14 million in Annual Special Grants for registered institutions across Sarawak.

He also mentioned that to expand access to early childhood education, RM4 million in TADIKA and TASKA fee subsidies is provided, benefiting 4,000 children from households with an income of RM7,000 and below.

Finally, he announced the continued implementation of the Sarawak Dual Language Programme (DLP) next year with RM6 million allocated for the purpose. - UKASnews

Reporter: Nur Nabilla
Translator: Ryan Lim
Photographer: Hazrin Sunaini