Premier Abang Johari confirms Sarawak’s free tertiary education scheme will continue beyond 2026, backed by a RM250 million allocation for next year.
KUCHING: The Sarawak state government is committed to continuing its Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) beyond 2026.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced an allocation of RM250 million has been set aside for the initiative next year.
“This FTES initiative is not only for 2026, but it will also be sustainable towards the future,” he said during the scheme’s launch.
He assured Sarawakian parents they do not need to set aside income for their children’s tertiary education.
Abang Johari expressed confidence in the state government’s ability to sustain the programme with good governance.
“Tertiary education has become the responsibility of the state government, but I am not worried,” he stated.
The scheme covers 64 approved courses across four Sarawak-owned higher learning institutions.
These institutions are Swinburne University of Technology, Curtin University, University of Technology Sarawak and i-CATS University College.
It provides full tuition fee coverage and a monthly living stipend for eligible students.
The FTES focuses on undergraduate degree programmes in fields critical to Sarawak’s talent development.
Priority areas include STEM, medicine, law, accounting, finance and psychology.
