FTES student intake jumps 128.5 pct to 3,491 in 2026

FTES student intake rose by 128.5 per cent, from 1,528 students in 2025 to 3,491 in 2026. Photo credit: MEITD

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Oct 19: Student intake under Sarawak’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) rose by 128.5 per cent this year, with 3,491 students enrolling in 64 courses compared to 1,528 in 2025.

Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said a total of 6,246 students had accepted FTES offers at Sarawak-owned institutions of higher learning as of Sept 30.

“These students are enrolled across the four Sarawak-owned institutions of higher learning, namely Curtin University Malaysia (949 students), i-CATS University College, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (2,802) and University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) (2,031),” he said when presenting his ministerial winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.

Breakdown of the 6,246 students who accepted offers under Sarawak’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) as of Sept 30, 2026, by institution. Photo credit: MEITD

Sagah said the scheme also provides an annual stipend of RM15,000 to eligible students from lower-income households to help cover living and accommodation expenses.

“To date, 3,195 students, of those who have accepted the FTES offer, qualify for the stipend,” he added.

He added that the 64 courses covered by FTES span disciplines linked to Sarawak’s economic priorities, including the hydrogen economy, precision agriculture, data centre development and the aerospace industry.

Sagah also called on elected representatives to continue promoting FTES, particularly among rural communities, to ensure eligible students are aware of and can benefit from the scheme.

His ministry has also conducted outreach programmes to bring information on FTES and other higher education opportunities closer to rural communities.

Sagah participating in the debate on the Second Reading of the Supply Bill (2027), 2026, in Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting on Oct 19, 2026. Photo: JaPen

In a related development, Sagah said the feasibility study for establishing the first wholly state-owned Faculty of Medicine at UTS had been completed.

“The next step is to fulfil the relevant requirements and criteria, and approval by the Ministry of Higher Education, the Malaysian Medical Council and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, including the necessary infrastructure, before the medical programme can commence,” he said. — DayakDaily