KUCHING, May 12 — A total of 4,694 students from four higher education institutions (IPTs) in Sarawak have been offered free education through the Sarawak Free Higher Education Scheme (FTES) so far.

Sarawak Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said that according to the breakdown, i-CATS University College involved 172 students, Curtin University Malaysia (543 students), Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (1,959 students) and Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (2,020 students).

“This number is expected to increase when new student intakes begin in June and September and we are targeting 10,000 students throughout Sarawak to enjoy FTES this year,” he said during the Question Time session at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting, today.

He said this in response to a question by Safiee Ahmad (GPS-Daro) on the number of students who have benefited from the Sarawak FTES so far.

Meanwhile, Dr Annuar said a total of 1,433 students chose not to accept the free education offer.

“Most of those who refused involved final year students who had existing contracts or agreements with their respective scholarship sponsors.

“They cannot breach the existing contract. If they turn down FTES offer, this will open up opportunities for other students,” he said.

He said the state government was also confident that FTES would be able to continue in the coming years based on the state’s income increasing every year and the establishment of the Sarawak Sovereign Future Wealth Fund guarantees its future. — Bernama