Yayasan Sarawak international school in Sibu set to welcome students in 2026

SIBU (July 28): The Yayasan Sarawak (YSIS) International School Sibu is expected to take in students in 2026, says Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee.

According to the Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak, the school targets to enrol 100 best students.

On this, he gives assurance that the students would be accepted should they meet the entry criteria, irrespective of racial or religious backgrounds.

“Whether you are an Iban, a Chinese, a Bidayuh, a Malay, a Melanau or an Orang Ulu, you will be accepted as long as you pass a special entry exam. I will make sure this happens.

“However, the priority will be given to the B40 (low-income) group, where they will be provided free; the M40 (medium income) will be charged a minimal fee, while the T20 (high income) the fee is still lower than those charged at private international schools,” Dr Annuar said in his speech for the Sibu Education Expo yesterday.

The Nangka assemblyman also said the YSIS would utilise Cambridge syllabus, where students would be sitting for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

According to him, YSIS Sibu would be the third international school to operate in Sarawak, with the other two expected to be in operation in the near future.

Dr Annuar also said the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) could reach a student population of 4,000 by this September.

“When I took over the chairmanship of UTS towards the end of 2021, I found that high course fee was the main reason for the low enrolment. Back then, UTS had about 1,100 students – at times, it was lower.

“So, I brought the matter to our Premier, who agreed to provide 50 per cent bursaries.

“Following that policy, the number of students has increased exponentially, and we are on track to achieve a student population of 4,000 by this September.”

A total of 270 students from Sibu District, who excelled in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 examinations received recognition from Yayasan Sarawak.

Sibu Resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman was among those present.