Sabah Education Fund disburses RM40m in assistance for Sabah students since 2022

                                Photo courtesy of Sabah Chief Minister's office 

 KOTA KINABALU: Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) has disbursed RM40 million in assistance since its launch in June 2022, benefiting 27,781 students statewide. 

 Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said 11,383 people benefited from RM15.89 million in TPNS assistance between January and August this year alone. 

 He said TPNS, established under the theme “Sponsorship Opportunities for All”, had become an important instrument in expanding access to educational assistance. 

 “This event is important because we are not merely presenting assistance, but opening up space and opportunities for Sabah’s children to continue their studies, achieve their ambitions and build their future,” he said in a statement after at the TPNS Assistance Presentation Ceremony and launch of the TPNS Smart Application System at Menara Kinabalu here today. 

 Hajiji said a strong and quality education system was crucial to Sabah’s development, with the State Government allocating RM155 million this year for the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS), particularly benefiting students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). 

 He said the allocation was more than three times the RM50 million allocated in 2020, while 14 education-related initiatives had been introduced between 2021 and 2025, including BUDI, the Computer Assistance Programme (BAIK) and flight ticket assistance for Sabah students studying in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Labuan. 

 Meanwhile, Hajiji said the TPNS Smart Application System, launched today, would allow applications for TPNS assistance to be submitted fully online, with applicants able to check their status in real time.

 “With this facility, the application process is expected to become easier, faster and more organised, particularly for Sabah's children throughout the State, especially those in rural areas,” he said. 

 Hajiji also called on local and international corporations operating in Sabah to contribute to TPNS under their corporate social responsibility initiatives, saying collaboration between the government, private sector, government-linked companies and non-governmental organisations could help strengthen the State's education ecosystem.