Hajiji (centre) receiving the Sabah Education Prosperity Icon Award from Raisin during the 2026 School Management Appreciation Ceremony (MAPenS) at SICC, Kota Kinabalu.
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor was honoured with the Sabah Education Prosperity Icon Award at the 2026 School Management Appreciation Ceremony (MAPenS) held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.
The award was presented by Sabah Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin.
In his speech while officiating the event, Hajiji said the State Government would continue to prioritise the education development agenda through human capital empowerment, the expansion of educational assistance, and the strengthening of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as artificial intelligence (AI) literacy.
He said these efforts are crucial to ensuring that every child in Sabah has access to the best educational opportunities regardless of race or background, while producing knowledgeable, morally upright and competitive future generations.
According to him, human capital development will continue to be strengthened in line with the State Government’s aspiration to enhance educational excellence and reinforce Sabah’s future.
“Skills development and youth empowerment will continue to be strengthened through the expansion of scholarships and educational assistance. The enhancement of TVET, strengthening of STEM, agricultural training and digital technology, with a focus on AI literacy, are among the areas given priority by the State Government,” he said.
Hajiji (second right) with Raisin (second left), 2026 Leadership Icon Award recipient Dr Mohd Kassim Tusin, and 2026 Teacher Icon Award recipient Kasbulan Mangun during the 2026 School Management Appreciation Ceremony (MAPenS).
Hajiji said the State Government has consistently supported efforts to strengthen education through various initiatives and strategic collaborations with the Sabah State Education Department (JPNS) and the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE).
Among the initiatives implemented are the construction and upgrading of schools, provision of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities, motivation programmes for rural students, scholarships for underprivileged students, and various educational interventions aimed at improving students’ academic performance and character development.
He said the State Government also continues to provide various forms of educational assistance, including scholarships, study grants and 14 existing education aid initiatives.
Among the assistance provided are the One-Off Higher Education Institution Registration Cash Assistance (BUDI), Computer Assistance Aid, Special Examination Cash Assistance, Sabah Student Airfare Assistance, and the Higher Education Student Contribution in Sabah (SENTOSA).
In addition, Yayasan Sabah and the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) also offer educational assistance programmes that can benefit the people.
“All the assistance and efforts provided are intended to benefit the younger generation while serving as a catalyst for the state’s future development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji also expressed his appreciation to the entire education community for the encouraging achievements recorded in the 2025 Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination.
He said the improvement in performance, reflected in the State Average Grade (GPN) from 5.00 in 2024 to 4.85 in 2025, demonstrated the strong commitment and dedication of educators in enhancing educational excellence in Sabah.
“This achievement is the result of close cooperation among 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 future,” he said.
Hajiji also stressed that teachers are the backbone of national development as they not only impart knowledge but also shape the character and 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 children.
