Yayasan Sarawak: Empowering Education and Shaping Sarawak's Future

Sarawak Foundation, established on May 27, 1971, stands as a catalyst in education development, dedicated to fostering quality human capital within Sarawak and Malaysia. Envisioned by the late Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tun Datuk Patinggi Dr. Haji Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, the Foundation aims to provide greater educational opportunities for Sarawakian students and promote national unity and understanding. This article delves into the objectives, services, and expanded role of Yayasan Sarawak, highlighting its significant impact on education and the development of Sarawak.

A Legacy of Educational Advancement

From its inception, Yayasan Sarawak has been committed to providing scholarships and financial assistance to students pursuing education at all levels. The Foundation's core objectives include:

Granting scholarships and financial aid to Sarawakians and other Malaysian citizens for education in schools, colleges, universities, and institutions of higher learning, both within Malaysia and abroad.
Actively promoting educational opportunities for the people of Sarawak and Malaysia, particularly in universities within Malaysia.
Arranging for the award of scholarships and educational assistance to Sarawakians and other Malaysian citizens.
Providing assistance and relief to individuals in deserving circumstances.
Supporting organizations and institutions dedicated to scientific, medical, educational, welfare, social, or charitable purposes.
Contributing to the relief of national emergencies or calamities.

Over the years, Yayasan Sarawak has implemented numerous programs and activities to achieve these objectives, widening social inclusion, enhancing community engagement, and promoting knowledge dissemination.

Services to the Community: Nurturing Talent and Potential

Education is the cornerstone of success, and Yayasan Sarawak has consistently strived to develop human resources through financial support for education. The Foundation's achievements are evident in the success of its beneficiaries at local and international levels. With a focus on nurturing talent and intelligence, Yayasan Sarawak provides opportunities for individuals to become pioneers in innovation.

The Foundation's policies and directions are determined by its Board of Trustees, headed by the Chief Minister of Sarawak. As a government agency, Yayasan Sarawak's education programs and schemes align with the development needs of Sarawak and Malaysia. Since its establishment, the Foundation has invested approximately RM1.3 billion to sponsor 1,712,490 students at all levels of education.

Full Scholarship Awards

Yayasan Sarawak offers several full scholarship awards to support students in various fields of study:

Sarawak Foundation Tun Taib Scholarship: This scholarship supports students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses and postgraduate research in fields needed by the Sarawak State Government.
Sarawak Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarship Foundation (YBSTAR): This scholarship sponsors students pursuing Master's and PhD programs in public or private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia, without restrictions on the field of study.
Special Medical Programme Scholarship at UNIMAS: This scholarship provides sponsorship to students pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Medicine at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to increase the number of medical doctors in Sarawak.
Sarawak Foundation Local Scholarship: This scholarship provides financial assistance to underprivileged primary and secondary school students to support their education and improve their academic performance.
Tertiary/Technical Institution Enrolment Assistance: This scholarship provides funding during the early stages of students' enrollment in tertiary or technical institutions locally, including the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEX).

Scholarship-Loan Awards

Yayasan Sarawak also offers scholarship-loan awards to provide financial assistance to students:

Education Scholarship Loan (Local): This loan supports students pursuing studies at local public and private institutions of higher learning.
Overseas Education Loan: This loan provides partial assistance to finance students' studies overseas, offering global exposure and international insights.
Technical Training Scholarship Loan: This loan supports Sarawakians interested in pursuing technical courses at Skills / Technical Training Institutions under the Sarawak Foundation panel.
Sarawak Higher Education Scholarship Loan: This loan provides assistance to students pursuing full-time studies in Engineering and Quantity Surveying in selected IPTAs (Public Institution) / IPTS (Private Institution) in Sarawak.

Education Programme and Assistance

Yayasan Sarawak offers various education programs and assistance to strengthen youth and promote education:

Student Exchange Programme: This scheme fosters national integration by involving students from Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah in exchange programs.
Community Education Programme: This program creates awareness among the public about the importance of education and the assistance available for those in need.
School Uniform Assistance: This assistance helps alleviate the financial burden on parents by providing vouchers for the purchase of school uniforms, shoes, and school bags.
High Performing Rural Schools (HiPERS): This program focuses on improving the performance of selected rural schools in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mathematics, Science, and History.
Yayasan Sarawak - Asia Foundation 'Book for Asia' Programme: This program promotes reading habits among schoolchildren by supplying reading materials to selected primary and secondary schools.
Excellent Students’ Awards: These awards serve as incentives to students who achieve outstanding results in public examinations.
Sarawak Chief Minister’s Outstanding Award: This award recognizes exceptional performance among schools, leadership, teachers, students, and staff of the state education service.
Sarawak Foundation and Education Department Collaboration Programme: This program assists the State Education Department in implementing special programs to enhance the quality of education.
CENTEXS Community Outreach Programme

Expanding the Role: Investing in Education and Infrastructure

Yayasan Sarawak has expanded its role by investing in educational institutions and infrastructure to provide quality education to the younger generation. The Foundation owns two foreign universities: Curtin University Malaysia and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak.

Curtin University Malaysia: Established in 1999, Curtin University Malaysia is the first foreign branch university campus in East Malaysia. With approximately 4,000 students, it is the largest international campus and one of the fastest-growing foreign branch campuses in the world.
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus: Established in 2000, Swinburne Sarawak has grown rapidly, with a student strength of about 3,500. It has been rated Tier 5: Excellent, the highest rating achieved by any university in the SETARA system.

These universities provide world-class qualifications at a lower cost than studying in Australia, attracting students from local and neighboring countries and promoting Sarawak as an educational hub.

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Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS)

The State Government, through Yayasan Sarawak, established the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) in October 2014 to train and upskill the younger generation to meet the technical needs of the State industries.

Scholarship Requirements and Eligibility

Eligibility for Yayasan Sarawak's scholarships and educational loans is generally limited to Malaysian citizens who are Sarawakians, defined as individuals with at least one Sarawakian parent or guardian. This ensures that aid is targeted towards state natives.

Key Education Initiatives in Sarawak

Sarawak has introduced several key education initiatives to enhance the quality of education and address disparities:

Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES)

Starting in 2026, Sarawak's Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) will offer tuition-free undergraduate education at four state-owned institutions: Swinburne Sarawak, Curtin Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), and i-CATS University College. The scheme includes 64 approved programs in STEM, medicine, law, accounting, and finance. FTES also provides a RM15,000 annual stipend to students from low-income households (≤ RM1,500 per capita/month), removing a significant barrier to participation for underserved communities.

Sarawak Education Enhancement Programme (SEEP)

Launched in April 2025, the Sarawak Education Enhancement Programme (SEEP) is a targeted intervention to lift academic outcomes and address educational disparities between urban and rural schools. The program targets Form 3 to Form 5 students who are low-performing and/or from low-income households and provides free in-school tuition, webinars, and workshops to boost learning outcomes in English, Science, Mathematics, History, and pure Science subjects.

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Statewide Dual-Language Programme & Assessment

Since 2020, Sarawak has implemented the Dual Language Programme (DLP), where Science and Mathematics are taught in English across all national primary schools. In 2025, the first DLP cohort will sit for the newly introduced Ujian Penilaian DLP Sarawak (UP-DLP Sarawak) - a standardized examination for Science, Mathematics, and English.

Yayasan Sarawak International School

Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary Schools (YSISS) is operated and funded by the state government. Using the IGCSE curriculum, it aims to equip students with globally benchmarked, high-quality education while remaining rooted in local values and context. To be eligible, students must have at least one Sarawakian parent, a minimum Band 5 in Bahasa Melayu, English, Science, and Mathematics, and pass the YSISS entrance exam.

Holistic Support from Cradle to Campus

The state has also rolled out practical support for students through cash aid, laptops, and book vouchers for tertiary students from low-income families, alongside RM2.5 million in preschool fee subsidies and RM14 million in grants to early childhood centers.

Financial Management and Sustainability

Yayasan Sarawak derives its funding primarily from state government grants and income generated from its investment portfolio. The Foundation operates a network of subsidiaries to generate revenue supporting educational programs while advancing related initiatives in training, technology, and services.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its successes, Yayasan Sarawak faces challenges and considerations:

Access Barriers: The requirement for two guarantors with permanent employment for loans can disadvantage applicants from unstable job markets or rural areas.
UEC Recognition: The non-recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) by federal authorities can limit opportunities for UEC holders in federal scholarships, public universities, and certain government jobs.
Repayment Policies: Rigid eligibility rules in incentive programs for educational loan repayments have drawn criticism.
Operational Delays: Delays in activating affiliated educational facilities, such as the Yayasan Sarawak International Secondary School (YSISS) in Sibu, have highlighted administrative and regulatory hurdles.

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