SIMANGGANG: Three schools in the Sri Aman area have received Sarawak Government assistance checks worth a total of RM370,000 channeled through the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR).

The checks were presented by Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis at the 'Lukean Legacy' Appreciation Ceremony held at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Saint Luke here, on Thursday.

The first recipient, SMK Saint Luke, received a UNIFOR check worth RM200,000 while the other two recipients, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Saint Luke and SK Saint Lawrence, received UNIFOR checks worth RM90,000 and RM80,000.

The Simanggang Assemblyman also announced the implementation of the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) project to build a football pitch for SMK Saint Luke worth RM300,000 at the ceremony.

Also announced at the event was the allocation of a Minor Rural Project (MRP) for 2026 worth RM30,000 for the SMK Saint Luke Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG).

Speaking at the event, he called on students, especially those who will be sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, to strive to continue their studies at the Institution of Higher Learning (IPT) level.

"I call on the young people of Sarawak to seize the opportunity for free education for three years of Bachelor's degree studies offered by the Sarawak Government at four IPTs owned by the state starting in 2026.

"The four IPTs owned by Sarawak involved are the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and i-CATS University College," he said. -UKASnews