Abang Johari arriving at SK Abang Leman Kabong on a ‘Sungan’.

KABONG: The five proposed residential international schools to be set up in the state will accept both Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera top students, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The schools would provide opportunities for qualified rural and poor students to study in schools that could pave the way for them to study in world-renowned universities.

“The schools would be located in Kuching, Samarahan, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, and the studies at the schools would be based on the Cambridge University syllabus.

“The student fees at these residential international schools will be borne by the state government through the Sarawak Foundation (Yayasan Sarawak),” Abang Johari said in his speech when officiating at the SK Abang Leman 100th Anniversary celebration here.

He added that the London School of Economics and Cambridge University, had agreed to provide two places at each institution for top students sponsored by the state government.

“We (the state government) will also negotiate with Stanford University in the United States of America for another two places focusing on technology,” Abang Johari added.

On education development, Abang Johari pledged that the state government would continue to support the federal government in this endeavour.

“Recently, the state government approved an allocation of RM1 billion to the federal government for them to assist in improving the state’s school infrastructure.

During the event, Abang Johari also announced an allocation of about RM250,000 next year to build a computer lab at SK Abang Leman Kabong.

Also present were Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Kabong assemblyman Mohd Chee Kadir, Kalaka assemblyman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz and Betong Resident Friday Belik.