KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will continue to prioritise the development of education in Sabah through the strengthening of human capital, the expansion of educational assistance, and the enhancement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as artificial intelligence (AI) literacy.
Chief Minister, Hajiji Noor, said these efforts are crucial to ensuring that every child in Sabah has access to quality education regardless of race or background, while nurturing a generation that is knowledgeable, morally grounded and competitive.
He said human capital development would continue to be strengthened in line with the State Government’s aspiration to improve educational excellence and secure Sabah’s future.
“Skills development and youth empowerment will continue to be enhanced through the expansion of scholarships and educational assistance programmes.
“The strengthening of TVET, the enhancement of STEM, agricultural training and digital technology, with a focus on AI literacy, are among the areas being prioritised by the State Government,” he said.
He was speaking while officiating at the Fourth Majlis Apresiasi Pengurusan Sekolah (MAPenS) 2026, organised by the Sabah State Education Department at the Sabah International Convention Centre on Thursday.
Hajiji said the State Government has consistently supported efforts to strengthen education through various initiatives and strategic collaborations with JPNS and the Ministry of Education Malaysia.
According to him, these initiatives include the construction and upgrading of schools, the provision of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities, motivational programmes for rural students, scholarships for underprivileged students, as well as various educational interventions aimed at improving students’ academic performance and character development.
He added that the State Government continues to provide a range of educational assistance, including scholarships, bursaries and 14 existing education support initiatives.
“Among the assistance provided are the One-Off Higher Education Registration Cash Assistance (BUDI), Computer Assistance Programme, Special Examination Cash Assistance, Sabah Student Airfare Assistance, and the Sabah Higher Education Student Contribution Scheme (SENTOSA).
“In addition, the Yayasan Sabah and the Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah also offer educational assistance that can be utilised by the people,” he said.
He noted that all assistance and initiatives provided are intended to benefit the younger generation while serving as a catalyst for the state’s future development.
Meanwhile, Hajiji expressed his appreciation to the education community for the encouraging achievements recorded in the 2025 Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination.
He said the improvement in Sabah’s State Average Grade (GPN) from 5.00 in 2024 to 4.85 in 2025 reflected the strong commitment and dedication of educators in enhancing educational excellence across the state.
“This achievement is the result of close cooperation between teachers, parents and all parties involved in the education system.
“May this success serve as a catalyst for further elevating educational excellence in Sabah in the years ahead,” he said.
Hajiji also stressed that teachers are the cornerstone of national development, as they not only impart knowledge but also shape the character and moral values of the younger generation.
In this regard, he expressed his appreciation to all educators for their commitment, sincerity and dedication in carrying out the responsibility of educating the nation’s future generations. – PR/BNN
