Free tertiary education sustainable says Dr Annuar

KUCHING: The Sarawak government’s plan to introduce free tertiary education to Sarawakian students at state-owned universities is sustainable in the long run.

Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said this does not entail any budget cuts on other areas of state development nor the introduction of new taxes.

“We are not going to do that. This policy is part of (increased government spending). As the Premier said, the free tertiary education initiative is implemented because Sarawak’s income and gross domestic product (GDP) is increasing.

“It is untrue that we have to cut other development expenditures and increase taxes to make sure (free tertiary education) is sustainable,” he said in a video conference session with reporters here yesterday.

Dr Annuar said while he expects operational costs by state-owned universities will increase with more students enrolling in these institutions because of the initiative, it will not be burdensome.

“From our experience in Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), when we lower the fees by 50 percent, the enrolment increased by triple. However, the operational costs only increased slightly by 30 percent,” he said.

At the same time, he welcomed suggestions that the private sector should also contribute towards human capital development in Sarawak and its financing, adding that will be the ones who will benefit from a competent workforce.

Dr Annuar said the free tertiary education initiative is testimony to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government’s emphasis on ensuring access to higher education for all Sarawakians.

“We want every Sarawakian to have access to higher education. Last time, there are not many people can go to UTS but just with 50 percent decrease in tuition fees, we managed to increase the enrolment,” he said.

Dr Annuar said this also motivates Sarawakian students from poor families who previously have no avenues to pursue tertiary education due to financial constraints.

“When they come to form four or form five, they will think why should they go to universities as their families don’t have the money.

“So, the motivation is not there, but with them knowing that we provide free tertiary education, it motivates them to study hard and change their socioeconomic background,” he said.

He added that with quality higher education, it allows Sarawak to prepare talents that are suited in areas of technology, reducing the dependency on expatriates in the state’s industries.

He also said with access to free tertiary education available at state-owned universities, it allows Sarawakians to have an avenue to study in fields of their choice.

“We have done a study where we found 75 percent of Sarawakian students who applied to Ministry of Higher Education’s (MOHE) UPU were not given the courses that are listed in their first five choices. They are given the last choice whereby these courses are not marketable,” he said.

Dr Annuar stressed that the GPS government has never promised free education as a political pledge during the previous Sarawak state election, proving their sincerity in ensuring quality education.

“We never talked about it in our election campaign but we implemented it after we win the election and we never politicised this.

“We put up the idea after the election and will be implemented before the state election, in other words our GPS government are not like other parties, they promise but never able to deliver. That is totally different,” he said.

On whether the federal government should emulate Sarawak’s move to provide free tertiary education, Dr Annuar said they will be feeling the pressure to also offer a similar initiative.

“With us providing free education, it is not only a pressure to federal government but also a pressure to other states because if Sarawak can do it, why not other states?

“It is a pressure to them that is why a lot of question being raised on sustainability, but frankly, we will never compromise the minimum entry requirements (for enrolment).

“This is set by the ministry of higher education, even if it’s free (higher education at state-owned universities), it doesn’t mean we lower the standard; the standard is observed. No compromise on that,” he said.