Giving S'wak kids opportunity at world-class education

The Star

a day ago

Law (third from left) presenting the items to Rogers while Tiang (in yellow) looks on.
Sarawak International School Foundation is to begin enrolment for its Sibu school's first academic year.
The new school was built with the objective of making international education accessible to Sarawak's lower-income families.
Sarawak Public Health, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Michael Tiang said the school was part of the state government's ongoing commitment to educational equity and development.
'This is the latest Yayasan Sarawak International School and we will start recruitment for the Sibu campus next year,' said Tiang, who is also Pelawan assemblyman.
'Recruitment will be open to all Sarawak citizens regardless of racial background, but our top priority is to serve the B40 group.'
He said the quota for students from M40 and T20 households would be limited to ensure that those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds were prioritised.
'Our mission is clear, to give every Sarawak child a fair chance at a world-class education.'
Tiang highlighted another major initiative by the state government – the introduction of free tertiary education for Sarawak citizens starting next year.
The policy aims to alleviate financial burdens on families and ensure that no student is left behind due to economic constraints.
The free education is for Sarawakians studying in five state-owned universities – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sara­wak, i-CATS University College, and Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs).
'I spoke with a parent whose daughter was afraid to pursue higher education after seeing her family struggle with her older sibling's university expenses.
'When I told him his daughter could apply for our free tertiary education programme next year, he was relieved.'
Tiang also said that university students would receive a monthly RM1,200 allowance from the state government.
'These efforts give real hope to our younger generation. They don't have to worry and can focus on upgrading themselves and contributing to the community.'
He said this at the presentation of electrical items to Destiny for Children (DFC), a local community initiative that provides education to stateless and undocumented children in Sibu.
Donated by Sarawak Central Zone Electrical & Elec­tronic Goods Sales & Services Association, the donated items were presented by project organising chairperson Michelle Law to DFC headmistress Pauline Rogers.
Tiang also commended DFC for offering early and primary education to children who were otherwise unable to enrol in public schools.
He added that the Sarawak government, through the Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Develop­ment Ministry led by Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, had formally adopted DFC to provide financial and administrative support.