BELADIN: Alongside aiming to achieve an average Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) grade of 4.74 by 2026, Sarawak has introduced the Sarawak Education Enhancement Programme (SEEP) to expand student eligibility for the science stream.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn shared that SEEP, with an annual budget of RM15 million, underscores the Sarawak government’s commitment to raising educational standards across the state.
“The State Average Grade (GPN) currently trails the national standard, highlighting an urgent need for improvement. Our goal for 2026 is to raise the average SPM grade from 5.06 to 4.74,” he said at the SEEP Launch Ceremony at SMK Beladin on Monday (Nov 4).
SEEP focuses on helping students qualify for the science stream and advance to higher education. The programme primarily supports students from low-income (B40) families in grades 3, 4 and 5.
Recent results from the 2023 End of Semester Academic Test (UASA) showed that 44 per cent of students scored grades of E or below.
“SEEP will assist 56,000 students from 174 schools, excluding the Baram District Education Office and a few other schools,” said Sagah, who is also the Tarat assemblyman.
“It offers free tuition in core subjects: History, English, Science, and Mathematics for arts students; and Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology for science students.”
The programme combines in-person and virtual learning to ensure accessibility. Each student will receive a QR-coded card for progress tracking, enabling data-based improvements to the programme.
The RM15 million budget will fund teacher honoraria (RM40/hour), learning materials, assessment tools, and a monitoring app.
Present at the launch were Deputy Talent Development Minister Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Beting Maro assemblyman Razaili Gapor; Damien Rijek, a political secretary to the Sarawak Premier; Sarawak Foundation director’s representative Mahathir Mohamad, deputy Betong Division Resident Khalid Andong, Betong District education officer Mohamad Lela Alamsah and SMK Beladin principal Abdul Talip Sulaiman.
