As the country begins to recover from the pandemic, the Sarawak Foundation (Yayasan Sarawak) has had a profitable year in 2022. This year, there were about 130,000 beneficiaries, with a total estimated distribution of RM69 million.
The foundation in a statement said that it continues to provide educational assistance through scholarships, scholarship loans, and other school programmes.
“For the academic year 2022, more than 22,000 students earned scholarships worth RM12 million. With a total payment of RM34 million, the scholarship-loans granted have helped about 4,800 students. Academically outstanding students earned a total incentive of RM8.8 million on their scholarship loans. In total, 900 students have benefited from this.”
The foundation also stated that it provides educational support through programmes such as High Performing Rural Schools (HIPERS), English Enhancement Program, School Uniform Assistance, Free School Bus Services, Secondary School Tuition Assistance, Students’ Retreat Program, and others.
In addition to those, it also offers the Anugerah Khas Premier Sarawak, Anugerah Graduan Cemerlang, and other awards to schools and students who have achieved academic success.
“For the fiscal year 2022, all of these programmes have helped roughly 110,000 students and schools, totaling RM23 million.”
The Sarawak Foundation also stated that the Sarawak government has continued to assist Sarawakians with their PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund) loans in order to lessen the burden of student debt. More than 11,000 students have benefited from the RM36 million collaboration with PTPTN.
Last year, the foundation has distributed 150 computers to 21 schools through its YS-CAPS programme, a CSR project with Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and PC Image Sdn Bhd. Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has given away approximately 500 computers to 65 Sarawak schools.
According to the foundation, it has participated in over 100 exhibitions and 30 other programmes across the country, reaching an estimated 86,000 Sarawakians last year.
“The Sarawak Foundation took part in events such as Jom Masuk IPT, Expo Pendidikan, Jerayawara Sarawakku Sayang, Career and Education Day, and Lan Berambeh in 2022.”
The foundation said that rural schools, namely Sekolah Kebangsaan Nanga Machan, Sekolah Kebangsaan Kalok, Sekolah Kebangsaan Rantau Dilang, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Durin, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kanowit and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Julau No 2 have demonstrated exceptional initiative in organising an educational visit to Kuching which includes a visit to the Sarawak Foundation.
“Students were given motivational speeches as well as information on educational programmes and assistance. The foundation has reached out to over 200 students and 50 teachers as a result of this initiative.”
As the foundation advances in unison with the Sarawak government’s digital economy aspirations, it hopes that Sarawakians will continue to develop digitalisation expertise, regardless of the subject of study they choose to follow.
