The state of Sarawak aims to provide free tertiary education at state-owned institutions of higher learning to all Sarawakians by 2026.
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg (Abang Jo) said that he was optimistic that the Sarawak government would be able to offer this benefit to Sawarakians, in a post on the official Facebook page of the Premier of Sarawak,
“I have asked (state) education, innovation and talent development minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn and his deputy Dr Annuar Rapaee to study how we can provide free tertiary education to Sarawakians in our state-owned universities,” he was quoted as saying.
Abang Jo also stated that based on the study, he believes that under the 13th Malaysia Plan, Sarawak will be able to give free education to Sarawakians by 2025 or 2026.
“I can commit to 2026 because our economy will be stronger by then,” he said at the closing of Pesta Benak in Sri Aman.
He noted that Sarawak’s revenue was RM12 billion in 2022, the highest for the state and that it was on track to surpass it this year.
“Based on my calculations for this year, maybe we can break our record from last year. This year may be better than 2022,” he said.
Sarawak also has been setting up a sovereign wealth fund with an initial amount of RM8 billion to strengthen its financial sustainability, the remainder of which Abang Jo hopes to be used on “education as well as to strengthen our economy and develop infrastructure throughout the state.”
Read more: Can You Afford To Pay For Your Child’s University Education?
