KUCHING: Sarawakian students can now directly apply for courses they are passionate about at state government-owned universities without the intervention of outside party.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that this initiative is designed to help students follow their passions and reduce the risk of unemployment.
He added that when students are placed in fields they don’t want, it will lead to dissatisfaction and may result in unemployment as they end up in jobs they are not interested in.
“That’s why, at Sarawak owned university, we don’t rely on UPU (University Placement Unit).
“Oh, you want to study aviation. Just join. What do you want to study? I want to study economics. Join the economics faculty. I want to study finance. Join finance.
“Because our economy requires strong management, and this will drive our development. That is why, as part of our commitment in GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), my cabinet aims to provide free education for Sarawak’s children by 2026,” he said.
He said this during the ‘Eight years with Premier Sarawak’ Townhall Session at Hikmah Exchange and Event Centre Kuching last night (Jan 13).
Abang Johari emphasised that this approach aims to better align the state’s educational system with its evolving economic needs and the state government’s goal of introducing strategic job opportunities, including in aerospace, the satellite economy, and data centers.
He said Sarawa requires a skilled workforce, which is fostered through a new education system.
“Many children from Sarawak work abroad. They are all smart, you know. But they work abroad because our economy doesn’t align with what they studied.
“If we want to implement aerospace, satellite economy, data centers, we need to have a sufficient workforce. And these are important disciplines.
That’s why STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is important, finance is important, law is important. Because the situation has changed. So we introduce Sarawak’s children to pursue these strategic fields,” he said.
He also highlighted a successful initiative at Universiti Teknologi Sibu, where bursaries helped students from underprivileged backgrounds pursue careers in fields like law, engineering, and finance.
He said that by 2026, free education for Sarawak’s children will be provided for those who pursue their studies at universities in Sarawak.
