The prospect of free tertiary education at higher learning institutions in Sabah appears promising, with the State Government reviewing the possibility of introducing a scheme similar to Sarawak’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud said the decision and implementation of such a programme would ultimately depend on the Sabah Government.
He noted that education at the primary and secondary levels in Sabah is already provided free of charge, while the State Government is now considering whether similar assistance could be extended to tertiary education.
Mustapha said some institutions already provide full scholarships at diploma level, including the Industrial Training and Learning Programme (ILTP), while Sabah students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) receive support through state government scholarships, Yayasan Sabah and other state-funded education programmes.
Speaking at the Sepanggar Parliament Madani STPM Excellence Awards programme at Kota Kinabalu Form Six College (KTEKK) on Friday, he urged the State Government to speed up its assessment of the proposal.
He suggested that the findings be presented at the next State Legislative Assembly sitting for further discussion, which could help determine the way forward if the scheme is considered viable.
“If we have the financial capability, I think this is a good aspiration for us to pursue, just like in Sarawak. Ultimately, however, it depends on the state’s fiscal position,” said Mustapha, who is also the Sepanggar assemblyman.
Meanwhile, Mustapha praised KTEKK students for their improved performance in STPM science subjects, particularly Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
He said the stronger results reflected the commitment of educators and the determination of students to overcome challenges and achieve excellence in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education.
