Hajiji greeting recipients of the Sabah Excellent Scholarship during the 37th Sabah State Excellent Scholarship Awards Ceremony at SICC today.
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government continues to strengthen its human capital development agenda by allocating more than RM100 million for the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS) this year, benefiting thousands of students pursuing higher education at various levels, particularly in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the allocation would cover existing scholarship recipients as well as new sponsorships for 2026, involving 2,182 students pursuing diploma, bachelor’s degree and master’s degree programmes.
He said the total number of students sponsored under BKNS has now reached 13,389, reflecting the State Government’s commitment to ensuring more Sabahans have access to quality education.
“The State Government has always prioritised education development because it forms the foundation for producing knowledgeable, skilled and competitive human capital,” he said when officiating at the 37th Sabah State Excellent Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.
Hajiji and other guests pose for a group photograph with recipients of the Sabah Excellent Scholarship during the 37th Sabah State Excellent Scholarship Awards Ceremony at SICC today.
Hajiji, who is also Chairman of the Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, said BKNS has added another 10 recipients to the Sabah State Government Excellent Scholarship Award this year, bringing the total number of award recipients to 60.
He said the State Government also offers several major scholarship schemes, including the Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Scholarship Award, Premier Scholarship, Sabah State Government Excellent Scholarship and the B40 and Rural Programme Scholarship.
He added that the Yayasan Sabah Group has also increased the number of recipients of the Sabah Excellent Scholarship Award by 10 to a total of 50 recipients this year in recognition of the academic excellence of Sabah students.
Hajiji said the State Government is also expanding educational opportunities in the healthcare sector, with 30 Sabahans to be selected for a talent development programme covering the Diploma in Medical and Health Sciences, Diploma in Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Technology.
He said the programme is implemented through a strategic collaboration between the Yayasan Sabah Group, the National Heart Institute (IJN) and IJN University College under a memorandum of understanding signed in April to strengthen the development of the State’s future healthcare workforce.
The initiative, he said, is in line with Sabah’s need to increase its pool of skilled healthcare professionals while providing more opportunities for Sabahans to undergo professional training in critical fields expected to be in high demand in the future.
At the same time, 15 Sabahans are currently undergoing the Patient Care Assistant Programme at IJN University College through an initiative coordinated by Yayasan Sabah via University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF), further expanding access to quality healthcare skills training.
He said the State Government also provides various other forms of educational assistance to help ease the financial burden on students and families facing rising education costs.
Since its introduction, the Sabah State Government Excellent Scholarship (BCKNS) has benefited 835 recipients with a total expenditure of RM141.29 million, while the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS), launched in 2022, has assisted 15,629 recipients involving allocations exceeding RM25 million.
“In addition, the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS), through its Zakat and Fitrah Division, continues to provide educational assistance to students pursuing higher education, including initial tuition fee assistance and flight tickets, with expenditure amounting to more than RM12.7 million from January to June this year,” he said.
Hajiji said the Office of the Deputy State Secretary (Special Duties) also continues to implement 14 education initiatives introduced since 2021, including the One-Off Higher Education Registration Cash Assistance (BUDI), Special Examination Assistance (BAKTI), Computer Assistance (BAIK), Sabah Student Flight Ticket Subsidy (SUBFLY) and Higher Education Student Assistance in Sabah (SENTOSA).
He described the improvement in the State’s education performance as a positive indicator after Sabah recorded a State Grade Point Average (GPN) of 4.85 in the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, compared with 5.00 the previous year, marking the first time the State achieved a GPN below the 5.00 threshold.
He urged students to continue striving for excellence and to explore strategic fields such as oil and gas, energy, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and artificial intelligence (AI), which are expected to drive Sabah’s future economic development.
