Sagah: About 10,000 students to benefit from Sarawak’s free tertiary education scheme in 2026
by desiree david · Borneo Post OnlineKUCHING (Nov 27): About 10,000 students are expected to benefit from the Free Tertiary Education Sarawak (FTES) initiative when it begins in 2026, said Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
He said the actual number of recipients will depend on the applications received, as the scheme covers only 64 selected courses offered at the four state-owned universities—Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and i-CATS University College.
Sagah said the initiative is aligned with Sarawak’s talent development policy, particularly as the state moves towards a green and science-focused economy.
“We have to train people for science-related courses, especially engineering and industries linked to the new economy,” he said, adding that the state is preparing its workforce for emerging opportunities.
He said this during a press conference on Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference & Exhibition (APACE) 2026 at State Legislative Assembly (DUN) media room on Thursday.
Sagah explained that the FTES will apply only to Sarawakian students with a ‘K’ status who enrol in relevant courses at the four universities.
“There is no separate application mechanism for the fee waiver, as students will simply apply for their chosen courses and the selected universities will forward the names of eligible students to the state for payment,” he explained.
He added that more details will soon be announced by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.