Sarawak is embarking on a transformative educational journey, powered by a significant RM665 million allocation in its 2026 budget.
This comprehensive strategy weaves together curriculum reform, infrastructure upgrades, digital equity, and talent development into a single, ambitious vision for the future.
The transformation begins with foundational reforms in teaching and learning.
The RM20 million Sarawak Education Enhancement Programme (SEEP) is developing customised, context-aware teaching modules to move beyond rote memorisation.
Concurrently, the expanded Dual Language Programme (DLP) is a key strategy for elevating STEM standards.
While recent assessments show strong English proficiency, they reveal a critical need for targeted interventions in Mathematics, particularly in rural schools, a challenge the ministry recognises as essential for building a skilled workforce.
A direct assault on the urban-rural divide is central to the plan.
This involves not only repairing dilapidated schools but also a major push for digital literacy and equitable connectivity to ensure no student is left behind in the digital age.
Substantial financial assistance, including laptops, book vouchers, and special aid schemes, further works to level the playing field for all families.
The strategy extends to empowering homegrown talent.
While financial support for tertiary education is strategically focused on strengthening state institutions, initiatives like the new Sarawak Innovation Index (SARii) aim to directly link education to economic growth.
From award-winning robotics teams to the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre’s fusion of traditional knowledge and modern science, practical learning is emphasised.
This is complemented by a massive expansion of TVET through centres like CENTEXS and large-scale career fairs, deliberately bridging the gap between education and employment in high-growth sectors like semiconductors.
Looking ahead, strategic investments in research from a future Science Centre to R&D in the sago industry aim to cultivate a culture of innovation.
Parallel initiatives are actively developing homegrown talent pools for the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and the global semiconductor industry.
In essence, Sarawak has laid out a comprehensive blueprint.
It addresses immediate infrastructure needs while strategically preparing its youth for the economy of tomorrow.
The success of this vision hinges on sustained implementation and partnership, but the strong foundation of focused policy, substantial investment, and an unwavering commitment to equity positions Sarawak to make significant strides toward becoming a knowledge-driven society by 2030.
Reference
Winding up Speech at 19th DUN Sarawak Sitting, 24 Nov 2025 – 3 December 2025, YB Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development
