Dr Annuar (centre) fields questions from members of the media. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (May 12): The Sarawak government’s free tertiary education policy will prioritise courses that meet the needs of the state’s job market, said Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee.
The Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said this is to ensure that Sarawakian graduates will have a high employability rate.
“We have not decided which courses yet but we will be identifying them as soon as possible.
“We are going to base this on the needs of Sarawak’s workforce to see which ones are in demand and these will be given priority,” he told reporters when met after officiating ‘Jom Masuk U’ Sarawak Zone here today.
He was representing Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
Also present was Unimas vice chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit.
Dr Annuar said the Sarawak government is looking into the selection of courses under this policy in view that not all degrees will necessarily guarantee employment.
“If we open up the policy to every university course, there may be certain courses that might not have high employability rate or that the job might not even exist yet.
“As such, the graduates might wound up unemployed,” he explained.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg previously announced that the Sarawak government will provide free education to over 25,000 prospective students in all Sarawak-owned universities and higher learning institutions (IPTs) starting from 2026.
He also said that priority will be given to students who are taking up technical and financial disciplines such as engineering, accountancy, and computer science, which will have better chances of securing employment.
Earlier at the event, Sagah in his speech read by Dr Annuar said the free tertiary education initiative for Sarawakians will involve Sarawak-owned universities and IPTS namely Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak, i-CATS University College and Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs).
“The Sarawak government is committed in its efforts to providing free education to Sarawakian children.
“We will be the first state to move towards this initiative and open up opportunities for our children to explore new technologies for the advancement of Sarawak and the country,” he said.