KUCHING: Sarawakian students from lower-income families who are studying at various tertiary institutions across the country will receive a special allowance of RM1,200 each, starting next year.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the financial assistance, or pocket money, will benefit 25,000 Sarawakian students from families with a household per capita income of RM1,500 or below per month.
"The money given is to be spent on food and essential goods to help them mitigate the cost of living," he said in his speech during the tabling of the 2025 State Budget.
He said a sum of RM30 million will be allocated for this purpose under the budget.
The state government, Abang Johari said, recognises the need to mitigate the cost-of-living pressures among the low and middle-income groups, especially when it comes to bearing the cost of our children's education.
"Hence, we have introduced two key initiatives that were launched in August this year. The same initiatives will be continued in 2025," he said.
He said one of which is the book vouchers of RM500 per person for Sarawakian students studying in the public and private institutions of higher learning, with households with per capita income of RM1,500 and below.
He said a sum of RM2 million will be allocated for this purpose in the budget.
He said the state government will also provide free laptops to Sarawakian students who have successfully enrolled in public and private higher institutions.
He said the eligibility is that the students are from households with per capita income of RM1,500 per month and below.
"This assistance will empower our students with the essential technology they need to excel in their academic pursuits with an allocation of RM30.5 million next year, which will benefit 10,166 students," he added.
The premier said the Sarawak government in collaboration with the state Education Department has introduced the Sarawak Education Enhancement Programme (SEEP) to bridge the gap between students in rural and urban areas.
He said the joint free tuition initiative is for Form 4 and Form 5 students in core subjects such as Science, Mathematics, English and History as well as pure science subjects, with an allocation of RM15 million in 2024.
He said for next year an allocation of RM20 million will be provided for SEEP, with an expansion in the programme's coverage.
Abang Johari said the overarching meaning of teaching Science and Mathematics in English is to improve students' English proficiency and competitiveness in the future workforce.
He said this is part of the Sarawak government's Dual Language Programme that was first implemented in 2016.
He added the programme is being extended to secondary schools, saying that the state government will continue this initiative with an allocation of RM4.6 million in 2025.
The premier said the state government will continue to support the early childhood sector, by allocating RM20 million for the state-owned early childhood provider, SeDidik, and a sum of RM14 million for the annual special grant to all registered early childhood and care institutions in 2025.
He said an allocation of RM2.5 million will also be allocated next year for kindergartens and nurseries fee subsidies to ease the burden of the parents.
"This will benefit 2,500 children whose parents' monthly income is RM7,000 and below," he said, adding that by providing this assistance, the state government aims to increase Sarawak children's access to early childhood education.
He said the state government will also continue to provide annual operating grants to the state-owned universities and colleges.