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Kota Kinabalu: Education reforms under the Malaysia Education Plan 2026-2035 are aimed at bringing Sabah and Sarawak on par with other states while curbing brain drain by preparing skilled local talent, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.

Speaking during the Wacana Rancangan Pendidikan Malaysia 2026-2035 here, Saturday, he said the plan focuses on early intervention, infrastructure equity and future-ready skills.

“These are the steps to ensure Sabah and Sarawak move in tandem with other states. We want to produce quality skilled workers and stop our young people from having to migrate elsewhere,” he said.

Mustapha said lowering the entry age to Year One to six years old and reintroducing assessments at Year Four would help identify students’ potential earlier, allowing better placement into academic or technical and vocational pathways.

He added that higher education reforms, including modular learning and micro-credentials under an “unbundling” approach, would allow students to build qualifications flexibly while remaining competitive in the job market.

Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is also central to the plan, he said, stressing that future industries will demand workers equipped with practical and digital skills.

“The stigma that TVET is a second choice must end. In the coming decade, TVET graduates will form the backbone of national productivity and innovation,” he said, adding that digital literacy and artificial intelligence exposure must reach rural communities.

Mustapha said equal access to technology is critical to prevent a digital divide, noting that children in remote districts must receive opportunities comparable to those in major cities.

At the same time, he stressed the urgent need to resolve dilapidated school buildings, classroom shortages and teacher gaps in Sabah and Sarawak, saying infrastructure and staffing must match national ambitions.

“As the Minister responsible for Sabah and Sarawak, I will closely monitor the progress of our children’s education. 

“This is critical to developing the skilled workforce needed to drive both states forward,” he said.

He added that the Federal Government is aligning infrastructure upgrades, teacher recruitment and curriculum reform to ensure long-term development in both states is supported by a steady pipeline of skilled local talent.