6,246 say ‘yes’ to FTES offer

SARAWAK students benefiting from the state’s free tertiary education initiative (FTES) are not required to serve a bond upon graduation, giving them the freedom to pursue employment opportunities anywhere in the world.

Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the state government had deliberately chosen not to impose such a requirement, stressing that the initiative was intended to help the people without attaching conditions to the assistance provided.

“We don’t bond them because we give them the freedom to choose. And we do it with all sincerity because we want to help our people. No strings attached,” he said to reporters after delivering his ministerial winding-up speech on Monday (Oct 19).

Sagah added that the government hoped graduates would use their qualifications to build their careers, including overseas, and gain valuable experience.

“The employment of Sarawak graduates abroad would also help demonstrate the quality of the state’s educational institutions, particularly if they were accepted into international industries and workplaces,” he said.

Sagah hoped graduates who ventured overseas would eventually consider returning to Sarawak as the state’s economy continued to grow and offered more competitive salaries and employment opportunities.

He likened the prospect to graduates eventually missing home and wanting to return, adding that the state hoped to create an economic environment that would make coming home an attractive option.

“Having skilled Sarawakian talent with international exposure could also help attract foreign investors, particularly those looking for a capable workforce to support the development of industries in the state,” he said.

He said the government’s broader objective was to develop human capital that could contribute to Sarawak’s economic ambitions, whether graduates initially worked locally or gained experience abroad.

Apart from tertiary education, Sagah highlighted the state’s continued emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as efforts to improve English proficiency.

He said many of the state’s education programmes were aligned with its economic policies, which placed importance on developing scientific and technological capabilities.

On English proficiency, Sagah said the emphasis was driven by the language’s importance as a medium of knowledge, particularly given the volume of literature and learning materials available in English.

“The aim was not to emulate Western countries but to equip Sarawakians with the language skills needed to participate in a global environment,” he said.