KOTA KINABALU:The Sabah State Government has reaffirmed education as the cornerstone of its development agenda, channelling more than RM100 million into the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS) this year to support thousands of Sabahans pursuing higher education — with a particular emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the allocation will fund both existing scholarship holders and new sponsorships for the 2026 academic intake, involving 2,182 students enrolled in diploma, bachelor’s degree and master’s degree programmes.
With this latest intake, the total number of BKNS recipients now stands at 13,389 students — a figure he said reflects the State Government’s sustained resolve to widen access to quality education for all Sabahans.
“The State Government has consistently prioritised education because it is the foundation for developing knowledgeable, highly skilled and competitive human capital capable of driving Sabah’s future development,” he said when officiating the 37th Sabah State Excellence Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.
Hajiji, who also chairs the Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, announced that the Sabah State Government Excellence Scholarship (BCKNS) has been expanded with an additional 10 recipients this year, bringing the total number of awardees to 60.
He said the State Government continues to offer a suite of flagship scholarship schemes — including the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Excellence Scholarship, the Premier Scholarship, the Sabah State Government Excellence Scholarship, and the B40 and Rural Programme Scholarship — to ensure deserving students from all backgrounds are given a fair opportunity to pursue tertiary education.
The Yayasan Sabah Group has likewise increased the number of Sabah Excellence Scholarship Award recipients from 40 to 50 students this year, in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.
Responding to the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals, Hajiji said the State Government is broadening educational pathways in the health sector.
He said 30 Sabahans will be selected for a talent development programme offering the Diploma in Medical and Health Sciences, the Diploma in Physiotherapy, and the Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Technology.
The programme is delivered through a strategic collaboration between the Yayasan Sabah Group, the National Heart Institute (IJN) and IJN University College, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in April.
The initiative, he said, aims to strengthen Sabah’s future healthcare workforce while opening greater access for Sabahans to receive professional training in high-demand medical disciplines.
A further 15 Sabahans are currently undergoing the Patient Care Assistant Programme at IJN University College, under an initiative coordinated by Yayasan Sabah through University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF).
Beyond scholarships, Hajiji said the State Government continues to deliver an extensive range of education assistance aimed at easing the financial burden on students and their families.
Since its inception, the Sabah State Government Excellence Scholarship has benefited 835 recipients at a total expenditure of RM141.29 million, while the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS), introduced in 2022, has assisted 15,629 students with allocations exceeding RM25 million.
The Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS), through its Zakat and Fitrah Division, has also continued to provide higher education assistance — including tuition fee support and flight ticket aid — channelling more than RM12.7 million to students between January and June this year.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Deputy State Secretary (Special Duties) continues to implement 14 education initiatives introduced since 2021, among them the One-Off Higher Education Institution Registration Cash Assistance (BUDI), Special Examination Assistance (BAKTI), Computer Assistance Programme (BAIK), Sabah Student Flight Ticket Subsidy (SUBFLY), and Higher Education Student Assistance in Sabah (SENTOSA).
Hajiji welcomed Sabah’s improving education outcomes, noting that the state recorded a State Average Grade (GPN) of 4.85 in the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination — an improvement from 5.00 the previous year, and the first time Sabah has broken below the 5.00 benchmark.
He urged students to continue striving for excellence and to consider strategic fields such as oil and gas, energy, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and artificial intelligence (AI) — sectors expected to become key drivers of Sabah’s economic growth in the years ahead.
