KUCHING: Sarawak Skills is set to be one of the Sarawak-owned institutions offering free tertiary education to Sarawakians by 2026.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this is to train and prepare Sarawakians for new industries using the latest technology.
“Education can be very costly, especially for children of farmers and middle-class families even if their children are eligible to study at universities.
“Because of that, my colleagues and I have a target, by 2026, we will provide free tertiary education to all Sarawakians at our state universities, including Sarawak Skills.
“This initiative will cover institutions such as Sarawak Skills, Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs), Swinburne University of Technology, Curtin University, i-CATS, and the University of Technology (UTS),” he said.
He said this during Sarawak Skills’ 30th anniversary gala dinner at Riverside Majestic Hotel here last night (Aug 23).
Abang Johari said beneficiaries of the free education initiative must be Sarawakians with K-indicators in their MyKads.
“We will give special attention to science courses. We have to identify the right discipline for us to produce people with knowledge and transform our economy as a modern economy based on green economy.
“I hope in the next 30 years, Sarawak Skills will produce the people that we need. And I wish you all the best towards this goal. While we celebrate three decades of achievements, we must also look at the next 30 years”.
Abang Johari said as Sarawak is focusing on renewable and green energy, there is a growing need to train more talent in these fields.
“Thus, Sarawak Skills has to adjust its curriculum and syllabus to align with the demands of the new economy,” he said.
Also present were Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn; Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development II (Talent Development) Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Sarawak Financial Secretary Datuk Seri Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; and Sarawak Skills chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain
