Sabah Reinforces Commitment to Equitable Education Through TPNS Initiative

19 August 2025

SANDAKAN: The Sabah State Government’s commitment to strengthening education through the Yayasan Sabah Group was further reinforced with the presentation of the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) on 19 August 2025 at the Libaran Multipurpose Hall, Sandakan.

The event was officiated by the Sabah Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, who also serves as the Chairman of the TPNS Implementation Committee, Datuk Dr Haji Mohd Arifin Datuk Haji Mohd Arif. Also present were the Director of Yayasan Sabah and Deputy Chairman of the TPNS Committee, Dato’ Sri Haji Gulamhaidar, alongside committee members, representatives of government agencies, and officials from various educational institutions.

A total of 39 high-achieving students received financial assistance during the ceremony. These included 16 candidates from the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), two students from the Malaysian University English Test (MUET), 17 from the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), and four rural STPM candidates for the academic year 2024. Each outstanding SPM, STPM and MUET recipient received RM1,000, while each rural STPM student received RM500 to help ease their financial burden as they pursue higher education.

In a separate segment of the ceremony, 441 students from low-income (B40) families were awarded one-off financial assistance. These included students from Politeknik Sandakan, Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Sandakan, Kolej Komuniti Sandakan, TVET Skills College Sandakan, as well as undergraduates and postgraduates from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and learners from Open University Malaysia (OUM) Sandakan Learning Centre, along with students from other higher education institutions in the Sandakan district.

The event also saw 50 students receiving assistance in the form of prescription spectacles. Furthermore, three schools were awarded support under the Adopted School Assistance Programme. SK Sungai Manila and SK Pulau Timbang, both in Sandakan, were each granted RM5,000, while SMK Tongod received RM10,000. Additionally, Pondok School Miftahussalam in Sandakan was allocated RM6,500 in aid.

Mohd Arifin also presented the Sandakan District Student Excellence Award (Honorarium Tokoh Pelajar Daerah Sandakan) to Mohammad Azmir bin Misnani in recognition of his outstanding academic and co-curricular achievements.

Education-related aid was also channelled to students through several ongoing initiatives, including the Bantuan Galakan Usaha Sekolah (BAGUS), Skim Umum Kecemerlangan Siswa (SUKSES), Bantuan Khas Peperiksaan (BAKTI), and the Bantuan Insentif Siswa Terbaik (BISTARI). These schemes form part of the government’s sustained efforts to support human capital development across the state.

The TPNS represents a proactive initiative by the Sabah State Government, implemented via the Yayasan Sabah Group, aimed at alleviating the financial challenges faced by families from lower-income groups. It also underscores the state’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that education is accessible to all levels of society.

The ceremony is hoped to serve as a source of inspiration for students to remain steadfast in their pursuit of excellence, ultimately fostering a knowledgeable, capable, and competitive generation that can contribute meaningfully to Sabah’s progress.