Sarawak govt to appeal for TCS reinstatement onto MARA’s approved list for study loans

KUCHING: The Sarawak state government is set to appeal to Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) for the reinstatement of Technology College Sarawak (TCS) on its list of approved Higher Education Institutions (IPT) eligible for study loans and monthly living allowances.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this will serve to aid underprivileged students, which constitutes more than 75 percent of TCS College’s student population.

“The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is of the strong view that human resource and talent development is of utmost importance to the future of Sarawak’s in its effort to be a developed state with high income and a sustainable development environment by 2030.

“Our wealth of natural resources like oil and gas do not guarantee Sarawak can be a developed state and be able to sustain its development without ‘brain power’.

“Therefore, Sarawak, with all the education initiatives being implemented and a stable education policy, is leading the country towards developing a world-class education,” he said.

He said this in a text speech read out by Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee during the TCS 18th Graduation Ceremony at Dewan Majma here today (Jan 6).

Aside from Sarawak having its four state-owned universities, Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) as a skills development centre, international schools based on Cambridge syllabus, Abang Johari pointed out that the state is also targeting to implement free education in its state-owned universities by 2026.

“On top of that, Sarawak is firm in the use of English as a medium of instruction in schools as well as the second official language as provided for in the Constitution.

“This is simply because English is used internationally in the understanding and advancement of science and technology as well as the global language of business and commerce.

“Obviously, Sarawak is going to lose out if Sarawakians cannot master proficiency in English,” he said.

The graduation ceremony witnessed 359 TCS graduates receiving their scrolls, with degrees conferred in various disciplines, including Technology Management, Accounting, and Business Administration with specialisations in Management, Entrepreneurship, and Islamic Finance.