KUCHING: As Sarawak is expected to grow from strength to strength fiscally coupled with prudent management of its wealth, it is definitely able to provide free tertiary education to eligible Sarawakians by 2026.
President of Association of the Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Datuk Jonathan Chai said currently, there is a shortage of graduates from engineering and science disciplines.
Thus, he opined that there should be conscientious efforts from the government to encourage students to pursue tertiary education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Such measures should include full scholarships for these students.
“Of course this is a laudable goal that our younger generations will be looking forward to,” he said when asked to comment on Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg Tun Openg’s recent remark that the Sarawak government would be able to offer such benefits to Sarawakians in three years’ time given the state’s economic strength.
However, Chai pointed out that it is necessary to make sure that the graduates will be able to meet the demands of the labour market, especially towards developing our digital and green economy.
“In line with our development master plan, Sarawak will need more engineers and IT specialists in the process of transforming our economy.
“Apart from graduates, we also need a lot of technicians and skilled workforce particularly in our downstream industries.
“As such, our government should also provide free education to those students who further their studies at technical institutions,” he said.
With the help from Sarawak government to fund their tertiary education, Chai said the students or younger generations will not have to be burdened financially by the repayment of tertiary loans once they graduate.
“Hopefully, we can also curb brain-drain and keep our talents with such policy in place,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools (CHMS) No. 1, 3 and 4 Management Committee chairman Datuk Richard Wee said free tertiary education has been implemented in many other countries, hence to have such a policy can be easily emulated.
“As Sarawakians, we all should be proud, appreciative and grateful for such a policy initiative by our Sarawak government,” he said.
“Such good news will not only result in less financial burden for the family but also a privilege enjoyed by only Sarawakians,” he added.
On Sunday, Abang Johari said free education at universities and higher education institutions owned by the Sarawak government for eligible local students is expected to be implemented in 2026.
He said the annual projection of Sarawak’s income, which had shown an increase since 2020, had given him the confidence to set the expectation by the state government.
“I can commit to 2026 (to provide free tertiary education) because I have predicted that our economy will be stronger in 2026. If, in 2022, the state’s income had increased to RM12 billion, (my) calculation this year is that it’s likely to break the (income) record of 2022,” he said.
Abang Johari said the intention of providing free higher education was to ensure that more Sarawakians are qualified and able to use new technology to drive the state’s development.
